Chinese Calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is an abstract art for more than 4000 years, with no one knowing the exact appearance of Chinese written. But the oldest language written on shells of turtles so far is “Jia Gu Wen”

Chinese Calligraphy is not about writing of Chinese characters or how beautification the characters may look, but it’s an art to express spirits carrying the calligrapher’s personality, Idea, Mood, thoughts and soul. Chinese Calligraphy has stayed a potent force in Chinese life which continuously enjoyed a high status among the arts ever since, and being practiced today by many people including every school-aged child. 

Where to See Calligraphy works or Buy in Beijing

Museums like; Beijing Capital Museum, China Art Gallery, Beijing Museum of Cultural Relics Exchange, The Imperial City Art Museum and so on

Exhibition Centres.

Books which are devoted to calligraphy can be found in various Beijing bookshops like; The Bookworm, Yansha Books, Wangfujing Foreign Language Bookstore

Temples-Chinese Calligraphy is written on temples like Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Beijing Temple Fair, Confucius Temple etc. name plaques, shops, main doors for instance “Si He Yuan” or even modem door houses and also serves as an ever-present as part of Chinese culture. So on your trip to China makes sure to get yourself one. For Instance “Si He Yuan” or modem door houses and also serves as an ever-present as part of Chinese culture. So on your trip to China makes sure to get yourself one.

Where to learn Chinese Calligraphy in Beijing

Writing Brush: The handles for Chinese brushes are mad of hard wood, ivory and porcelain or bamboo, with the nib made from rabbit’s hair, wools, horse hair, wolves, foxes etc.

Paper: Fine texture and somehow absorbent and stay away from glossy paper since it make mess up with the writing.

Ink Stick: The ink stick is a block of dried ink dye, which appears like a black dominion game piece which is used by many calligraphers. Ink stick or pre-made bottled ink can be purchase in bookshops or other vendors.

Ink Slab: The flat, hard slab is made from stone or pottery. The ink slab is made from stone or pottery used in Chinese calligraphy and painting for grinding dry ink and mixing with water. In China, there are four famous Chinese ink slabs, including Anhui She Ink slab, Gansu Tao Ink slab Gansu, Guangdong Duan Ink Slab and Shanxi Chengni Ink slab.

Calligraphy Masters

Zhong Yao （151-230）He is known as the "father of standard script". His famous works include the Xuānshì Biǎo (宣示表), Jiànjìzhí Biǎo (薦季直表), and Lìmìng Biǎo (力命表), which survive through handcopies, including by Wang Xizhi 

Wang XiZhi王羲之(303-361) He was a Chinese calligrapher, traditionally referred  as the Sage of Calligraphy during the Jin Dynasty. Although none of his work remains today and all of his masterpieces which you see were copied or traced by others 

Ouyang Xun 歐陽詢 (557–641), He was a Confucian scholar and calligrapher of the early Tang Dynasty 

Cai Xiang 蔡襄(1012-1067): He was one of the four best calligraphers during the Song Dynasty. 

Zhao Mengfu赵孟頫, was a prince and descendant of the Song Dynasty, and a Chinese scholar, painter and calligrapher during the Yuan Dynasty.