The Art of Chinese Calligraphy The Art of Chinese Calligraphy Chinese calligraphy is like a rare, exotic flower in the history of civilization, and is a unique gem of Oriental culture. Graphically, it is comparable to painting in its ability to evoke emotion through a rich variety of form and design. As abstract art, it displays the rhythmic and harmonious flow of music. And from a practical point of view, it is written language.
Writing is a tangible representation of spoken language.
In the Seal Script style, both vertical and horizontal lines are fine, uniform, and forceful, and tend to be slightly pointed at the ends. The Seal Script of the time was divided into two major subtypes, the Ta Chuan, Greater Seal Script, and the Hsiao Chuan, Lesser Seal Script. The Lesser Seal Style is characterized by winding, wiry, carefully drawn lines, in contrast to the less refined Greater Seal Script. Li Szu, a high minister of the Ch'in dynasty, left for posterity a Tai Shan Stone Inscription, which has since become an unparalleled model of the Lesser Seal Script style of calligraphy. The Official Script Style emerged in response to the need for a writing style that could be quickly executed, to deal with the burgeoning volume of official written documents.