A Visual History of Chinese Calligraphy Exquisite

Author: Yin Sun
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2001-10-01
Features: Chinese characters are the artistic prototypes of calligraphy, upon which calligraphic creation relies. Without Chinese characters, calligraphy cannot exist, and without calligraphy, the Chinese calligraphic art would vanish. Therefore, when selecting calligraphic works for this book, the author follows the changes and developmental characteristics of Chinese character forms. This illustrated catalog not only includes various (literati calligraphy) that have held significant positions in calligraphic art since the existence of Chinese characters but also places great emphasis on folk calligraphy. This book is a companion to the author's 《》 (History of Chinese Calligraphy) and features nearly a thousand illustrations of the development stages of Chinese characters since the appearance of graphical symbols in the primitive society. It comprehensively and thoroughly reflects the entire process of the emergence, development, and evolution of Chinese calligraphic art until the present. The chapters are organized chronologically: New Stone Age, Xia, Shang, Western Zhou, Eastern Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Xin, Eastern Han, Three Kingdoms, Western Jin, Eastern Jin, Sixteen Kingdoms, Southern Dynasties, Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Northern Song, Southern Song, Liao, Western Xia, Yuan, Ming, Qing. Notably, this book provides a space for showcasing and studying the "new dynasties," which have long been overlooked by traditional calligraphers, and gives rare emphasis to folk calligraphy. In the form of illustrations, this book collects a vast number of calligraphic works from the New Stone Age to the Qing Dynasty, systematically demonstrating the development of Chinese calligraphy. The book is comprehensive, richly illustrated, and serves as both a reading and appreciation resource as well as an excellent reference for studying calligraphy.