Through the stroke of a brush, calligraphy can evoke deep emotions and meaning for both the calligraphers and viewers. It requires the skills of patience, elegance and passion as one must centre all thoughts on each stroke of the Chinese character. Each stroke is a touch of elegance and beauty combined to create an elegant art form which inspires creativity and amazement.

It is estimated that calligraphy is over four thousand years old and was developed just after the invention of language within China. Ancient stories suggest that an official of the yellow emperor named Cang Jie was ordered to create a formal method of recording information in 2650 BC. However, this is more of a legend than an accurate history of Chinese characters.

Primitive writing styles have been found on ancient clay objects in the Shandong province from 4600 years ago. The earliest recorded form of calligraphy is called Jia Gu Wen and was printed on animal bones and shells in the Shang (1600-1100 BC) and Zhou (1100-256 BC) Dynasties. 

Calligraphy became a prestigious art form in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). In 221 BC, Emperor Qinshihuang ordered the court official Li Si to come up with a definitive stroke order for all characters. The basic order for characters is left to right, top to bottom, horizontal before vertical with cutting strokes and dots to be produced last.

Most of the greatest calligraphers in Chinese history developed their skills during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). The calligraphy style used within this period is the most influential style for modern calligraphy art. The elite of Chinese society were ordered to perfect their calligraphy skills as it was a prominent feature in examinations and guaranteed one a well regarded government position.

The beginning of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) was considered the ‘golden age’ of Chinese history. This was also true for calligraphy. Academies were set up by the government focused solely on perfecting brush stroke and techniques.

During the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty, calligraphy was widely neglected and new styles of the period diminished the elegance and beauty of the art.

With the emergence of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), there was a revitalization of calligraphy and the ancient method used in the Han Dynasty was brought into practice again.

The tools used to create elegant calligraphy art are famously known as “the four treasures of study”. They include paper, ink stick, ink brush and ink stone.

Xuanshi Zhi (rice paper) from Anhui province is the preferred paper by calligraphic artisans as it provides the right texture and aesthetic look for the ink to sit beautifully on the paper. The paper is thin, however; it is strong enough to stop the ink from seeping through.

A proper ink stick is made from lampblack soot. The stick is rubbed with water on an ink stone for the right consistency. It takes a lot of practice to create the perfect texture for ink.

The ink stone can be created from either stone or ceramic. It is not only valued for its practical use in creating consistent ink but also as an art form in its own accord. Many craftsmen pride themselves on their ability to create smooth and lustrous ink stones which feature elegant carvings.

The brush is the most important element in calligraphy writing. The body can be made from many strong objects including bamboo, wood, ivory and gold. The head requires either hair or feathers from animals. It is important to hold the brush vertically straight between your thumb and middle finger with the index finger resting on the upper part of the body. This allows for greater control and movement of the strokes. It is important to be confident as hesitation will leave a black mark ruining the character.

The translation of calligraphy in Chinese is “beautiful writing” which only touches the artistic surface of this ancient art style. Many believe calligraphy to be a silent reflection of the soul which can be shared with the rest of the world. The basics of calligraphy are taught in schools throughout China bringing hope for new calligraphic artisans to bare their soul through this ancient traditional art.