Ancient Chinese calligraphy dates back to the Shang Dynasty (around 1600–1046 BCE), where inscriptions were made on oracle bones. The earliest forms of Chinese writing evolved through various dynasties, with significant developments during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE) and later in the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE) when standardized scripts were established. Calligraphy became an esteemed art form during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), further refining techniques and styles.
Ancient Chinese calligraphy features thousands of symbols, known as characters, with estimates ranging from 50,000 to over 100,000. However, only about 3,000 to 5,000 characters are commonly used in everyday writing and literature. The complexity and variety of these characters reflect the rich history and evolution of the Chinese language. Most calligraphy practice focuses on a smaller set of frequently used characters.
If you are referring to Chinese Calligraphy, it is called 书法 shu(1) fa(3) in Mandarin.
Calligraphy was introduced to ancient Japan during the 5th century, primarily through the influence of Chinese culture and the introduction of Buddhism. The earliest forms of Japanese writing were derived from Chinese characters, and calligraphy became an essential art form as it was used for religious texts, poetry, and official documents. Over time, Japanese calligraphy evolved to incorporate unique styles and scripts, reflecting the country's cultural identity.
Bingshou Yi has written: 'Moqing mo miao' -- subject(s): Calligraphy, Chinese, Chinese Calligraphy, History 'Qing Yi Bingshou xing shu shi zhou' -- subject(s): Calligraphy, Chinese, Chinese Calligraphy
Calligraphy is an ancient form of writing. It began in China from at least 800 AD and is based on Chinese characters. In an Islamic context it refers to artistic writing of Arabic script.
Chinese calligraphers
Ancient Chinese cities that start with 'N' include: Nanjing.
Zhenkai Feng has written: 'Zhongguo shu fa xin shang' -- subject(s): Calligraphy, Chinese, Chinese Calligraphy 'Li dai ming bei tie jian shang' -- subject(s): Calligraphy, Chinese, Chinese Calligraphy, Historical markers
Jixun Kong has written: 'Yue xue lou shu hua lu' -- subject(s): Calligraphy, Calligraphy, Chinese, Catalogs, Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Painting, Painting, Painting, Chinese, Private collections
Whiteley used Chinese calligraphy evidently in his 'Self Portrait in Studio 1976'
Zhonggao. Du has written: 'Shu dao ji fa 1,2,3' -- subject(s): Technique, Calligraphy, Chinese, Calligraphy, Chinese Calligraphy
Du Qian has written: 'Songhu hua yi' -- subject(s): Calligraphy, Chinese, Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Painting, Painting, Chinese