Calligraphy of Running Script

Author: Min Xiangde
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-02
Features: Practicing calligraphy, whether with a brush or a pen, can have a soothing effect on one's temperament; for young people, practicing calligraphy is even more beneficial in tempering their sharp edges. To achieve significant progress in calligraphy, following the guidance of renowned masters is an important approach. This book mainly includes the origin and status of running script, its characteristics, structure, layout, brushwork, points to pay attention to when writing running script, the best models for running script, writing methods of running script, and appreciation of fine works of running script from ancient times.
1. The Origin and Status of Running Script
Chinese calligraphy has a history of over three thousand years. Since the Shang Dynasty, it has been continuously innovating, with each dynasty having its own script styles. From the perspective of calligraphy art, there are five main types: Seal script, Clerical script, Regular script, Running script, and Cursive script. In terms of their origin, before the Qin Dynasty, there were oracle bone script, large seal script, small seal script, Qin clerical script, and eight-part clerical script. By the Han Dynasty, there were clerical script and eight-part script. During the Wei and Jin periods, regular script and clerical script emerged. Parallel to eight-part script and regular script were Zhangcao (archaic cursive script) and Jincao (modern cursive script): Zhangcao is the cursive form of eight-part script, while Jincao is the cursive form of regular script. Between regular script and cursive script is running script.