Since calligraphy is based on the written version of a language, we need to have a simple knowledge of the Chinese language before we can have an understanding of Chinese calligraphy. However, for the purpose of this article, I will not talk about the origin of the Chinese language and other characteristics. I will just concentrate on the form of written Chinese here.
The written form of Chinese is called Chinese characters which are square in shape and monosyllabic. Each character’s pronunciation stands on its own and is not affected or altered by the pronunciations of the character in front of it. Each character’s pronunciation stands on its own and is not linked to the pronunciations of the characters in front of or behind it. Each character or a group of two or three characters carries a meaning.
There are basically six different scripts of the same Chinese character. The characters we see printed in newspapers and most of the books belong to what is called the Regular Script. This is not the first script created for the Chinese written language. From the animal bones and turtle shells excavated during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty of China, ie, in the 17th century, there is clear evidence that in the Yin period of the Shang Dynasty (circa 1300 BC to circa 1027 BC), primitive characters based on the shapes of animals, articles, and other natural phenomenon and also ideas and concepts were carved on those bones and shells which were used for divination purpose. There were diviners who were in fact officials in the King’s court trained to make patterns on animal bones and turtle shells and then put them on fire. The shells or bones became cracked and a diviner, acting as a medium between the gods and human beings, was supposed to be able to interpret the cracks and forecast the weather and the outcomes of future events and activities received from the gods were engraved on the bones or shells. After the event, the actual happening was also engraved on the bones or shells.
These characters are called Jiaguwen, meaning Shell and Bone Script. A sample of Jiaguwen is shown on the right.
Similar writings are also found engraved on bronze vessels, utensils, weapons etc. and they are called Jinwen meaning Metal Script.
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