Chinese Calligraphy

What is Chinese calligraphy

Chinese Calligraphy is a traditional form of writing characters from the Chinese language using ink and a brush. It is a tradition that is rooted in China through centuries of practice.

History of Chinese calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy has an extensive history of about 1,000 years. It is a unique artistic form of Chinese cultural treasure and represents Chinese art. It is reputed to be the most ancient art form in the oriental world

Calligraphy initially began due to the need to record ideas and information. The unique forms of calligraphy developed and originated from China, particularly for writing Chinese characters by using ink and a brush. Furthermore, Chinese calligraphy is responsible for the development of numerous forms of art such as ornate paperweights, ink stones, and seal carving.

Why learn Calligraphy

For people who want to learn Chinese, calligraphy has great benefits:
- Calligraphy helps you see the structures. If you understand the aesthetics of Chinese characters, you will find them easier to learn.
- Calligraphy helps you practice characters in a way that builds long-term proficiency. You will have to learn the proper stroke order anyway, to use a dictionary - so why not learn the correct, artistic way to write them? Otherwise, you will simply be reinforcing bad habits as you do your daily practice.
-If you are aiming to use your Chinese academically, basic calligraphy will be necessary to help you decipher cursive writing once you reach a more advanced stage.
- Calligraphy commands enormous respect in Chinese culture. It is perhaps the earliest, and one of the most the historically accomplished abstract art form in the world. Learning calligraphy gives you an entry point to Chinese culture.