Chinese calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy is an art of fine writing Chinese characters with Chinese paintbrush and ink on porous Chinese rice paper. It is written vertically downwards from right to left and it can express several terms, poems, good wishes and proverbs.
These clear and meaningful messages make calligraphy a medium that achieves spiritual, artistic and aesthetic value offering answers to eternal human questions.
First records of Chinese letters are about 3300 years old, which tradition has been passed from a teacher to a student for thousands of years.
There are 5 major styles, developed 2000 - 3000 years ago, preserved to this date:
• Seal style (Zhuang shu)
• Official style (Li shu)
• Grass style (Cao shu)
• Regular style (Kai shu)
• Running style (Xing shu)
Calligraphy in China is considered to be the top art. It is believed that the calligraphers, thanks to proper posture, breathing and concentration reach harmony of the body and mind and also live for a very long time.
Chinese calligraphy is inspired by magnificent order of nature and the symbols themselves have evolved from the images, expressing the meaning in their appearance. Calligraphy strokes do not intend to copy natural objects, but display life as nature "writes them" (for example, mountain peaks or rippling rivers are shown by irregular strokes).
Empty space is not really empty, but it contains unexpressed expression of heaven, earth or water. It connects the strokes and equilibrates with them, giving the width and light to the character.
Calligraphy expresses artist's activity in peace and action, proper position of artist’s hand, brush and body, concentrated mind, upright and balanced body posture. Calligraphy combines straight and curved lines, rhythm, line and structure. It expresses itself through a stroke in one motion that could not be repaired and results in unique piece of art by each artist that cannot be copied.