As we saw during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, calligraphy is a particularly integral part in the history of China. It is one of the most challenging Chinese art forms for a foreigner to appreciate and even more difficult to master.

Unlike most other nations around the world Chinese calligraphy has been accepted as a form of art and calligraphy is part of the country’s cultural development. Calligraphy is an expressive art in that through the expression of the beauty of the lines and rhythms, calligraphy is a reflection of a person’s emotions, character and approach to life.

Chinese calligraphy is also a fine art form with exotic calligraphic inscriptions written on paper or stone that can be appreciated as incredibly artistic pieces.

Chinese calligraphy does not use a calligraphy pen, all lettering is performed by the Chinese soft haired calligraphy brush on absorbent paper and it is classically written in vertical columns from right to left.

The formation of each stroke in Chinese calligraphy is critical and is constructed to convey strength and boldness or delicacy and resilience. The sure firm hand can be as easily detected as the hesitant and wavering.

The Chinese view calligraphers with the same attitudes of criticism and respect the West accords its finest painters.

An indication of just how ancient an art-form Chinese calligraphy is can be ascertained when we learn that it can be traced to inscriptions on bones, tortoiseshell and bronzeware that belonged to the Shang Dynasty (16th – 11th century BC).