Few nations in the world have calligraphy as a form of art. In China, calligraphy has a long history, is popular among its people, and has maintained a close relationship with Chinese cultural development.
Calligraphy looks simple. It seems as if anyone that can write Chinese characters on xuan paper (a high quality rice paper made for traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy) with a writing brush can become a calligrapher. But that perception is not true. Calligraphy is a form of art that involves a great deal of theory and requires many skills; so there are not many calligraphers that have reached the highest realm of calligraphy.
Calligraphy is a constructive art. The calligrapher creates his work with his handling of the ink and the writing brush. The black strokes and white space on the paper create a sense of beauty For calligraphers, the writing brush is the extension of their fingers: the rhythm and strength of their writings are all controlled by their moods, and their calligraphy works are expressions of their sensibilities. Calligraphy is an expressive art. In a work of calligraphy, we can see the character, education level and experience of the calligrapher. Calligraphy is a practical art form. It can be used to write inscriptions on paper or inscribe wooden plaques or stone tablets. Its many attributes show us that calligraphy is a comprehensive art, expressing the Subjective feeling of the writers.
