The Origin and Evolution of Chinese Writing Style

Introduction

The origin of Chinese writing can be traced back to ancient China, although we are not certain of the date of its invention. According to reliable reference books, Chinese writing has at least a history of four thousand years. It is generally believed that people made records by tying a knot in a rope. This way of recording was replaced by the invention of words by Tsang Chie.

We cannot assume that there were no written words before Tsang Chie. Tsang only combined the invented words of his predecessors with slight changes. At the same time, there was still another inventor called Chu Sung.

Nonetheless, the fact that Chinese written words originated in painting is beyond doubt. That is why modern Chinese consider writing and painting to have the same origin.

Meanwhile, the invention of words represents the insufficiency of spoken language. As an instrument, they describe and keep various events and have meanings. Words precede writing; they are the mother of writing. Because of the passing of time, the evolution of human culture, and the needs of daily life, the writing style evolved from easy to complex.

Briefing the Origin and Evolution of Chinese Writing Style

China had Oracle-Bone Inscriptions in the Shang Dynasty (1766-1122 B.C.), then Big Seal Script in the Chou Dynasty ( 1122-221 BC). It is believed that Big Seal Script was created by one of the ranking officials in the Chou Dynasty while studying history ("chun"), so the writing style is also called Chun Writing. In the Chin Dynasty (221-206 BC), there came Small Seal Script. Although it was originally created by Premier Lee Ssu and historians Chao Kao and Hu Mu-chin through three separate pieces of writings, people generally refer to it as the "Writing of Lee".

In the Han Dynasty ( 206 B.C.-221A.D.), the Old Li Writing emerged. It was originally created by a calligrapher-turned-prisoner named Cheng Miao. Only during the following Wei (221-265 A.D.) and Jin (265-420 AD) dynasties did the Modern Li Writing emerge. It was also during this period of time that Free Writing (Tsao Shu) and Block Writing (Kai Shu or Text Characters) emerged. Although Block Writing was originally created by a person named Wang Tzu-chung in Peiping (today's Beijing), its system was not completed until Chung Yiao, a famous calligrapher, in the Wei Dynasty.

During the Five Dynasties period (907-959 AD), Running Characters (Hsing Shu) was created by a famous calligrapher from the Later Han Dynasty (947-950 AD). It has had little variation from then on.

The following is a more detailed introduction regarding the evolution of Chinese writing style.

1. Oracle-Bone Inscriptions

At the dawn of Chinese civilization, people were primitive and ignorant. They were very superstitious and wondered at everything in the universe. Before they acted on anything, they would consult fortunetellers. As spoken language was insufficient, words were invented and engraved with sharp objects on the back of tortoise shells and the bones of beasts, so that what happened before and after the consultancy could be recorded.

In the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911A.D.), some of these ancient shells and bones were dug up accidentally by farmers in Hunan Province. Unaware of their importance, these farmers mistook them for medicine and had them sold. It is fortunate that a scholar named Liu Eh (Liu Tie-yun) eventually came to regard them as precious relics of our ancestors. Gradually, this discovery was made known all over the country. Through the research of scholars such as Wang Kao-wei, Lo Cheng-yu and Sun Yi-rang, these oracle-bone inscriptions were proved to be the language of the Shang Dynasty. Since they were dug up in the ruin of the Shang (or Yin) Dynasty, people also refer to them as the Yin Writing. Their writing style is regarded as the earliest one in Chinese history.

2. Writing on Bells and Containers

This kind of writing is usually engraved on metal and bronze bells, which is why it is also called "Metal Writing" or "Old Writing". It has its own style, which is slightly different from that of Small Seal Script. Thus the two representative writing styles at the Shang and Chou dynasties are Oracle-Bone Inscriptions and Bell Writing respectively. The purpose of the former style was to record events; most of its writings were concerned with the prophecies of fortunetellers. The latter style was used for worshipping, therefore had a sense of beauty involved. Supporting evidences of this can be found in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, where many ancient vessels, containers, jade and various kinds of antiquity are well preserved.

3. Chun Writing and Stone and Drum Writing

One of the ranking officials of the Chou Dynasty created the Chun Writing while studying history. At that time, every word had several forms and several pronunciations. The official unified these variations and thus contributed greatly to the unification of Chinese writing style. Only until the Chin Dynasty was the Chun Writing called Big Seal Script.

Stone and Drum Writing (Chun Writing engraved on stones that shaped like drums) spread over the country and is still used even today. Its content is primarily concerned with god-worshipping.

4. Small Seal Script (Writing of Lee, or Chin Writing)

Lee Ssu (Premier of the Chin Dynasty), Chao Kao and Hu Mu-chin adopted Big Seal Script and changed it into Small Seal Script after the unification of the six warring states by the dynasty's first emperor, Chin Shih-huang. Because the languages of these six states varied in form and pronunciation, the emperor ordered the "standardization of language". Hence came Small Seal Script, the product of this order.

This is the second reform in the unification of Chinese writing style. It was not only a contribution to Chinese writing style but also a promotion of close relationship between different peoples. The area of China is immense, thus the unification of language could save the nation from splitting up.

5. Li Writing

Li Writing is the current style of Chinese writing. At the beginning of the Chin Dynasty, people were in favor of (Small) Seal Script, but it was hard to write. Then there came a famous calligrapher named Cheng Miao, who was put in prison due to some false charges. He recalled that when he served as a government official, administrative affairs were often complicated enough, not to mention the difficulty of dealing with them in Seal Script style. He therefore decided to reform it. After years of research, he finished amending three thousand words and effected the birth of Li Writing (the character "li" refers to slaves or prisoners). It is a style that is much more convenient to use.

This is the third reform in Chinese writing style. People promoted this improvement, and the style became popular throughout the nation. Its convenience in using saved a lot of precious time for generations to come.

6. Block Writing (Kai Shu, or Text Characters)

Block Writing is also called Real Writing or Formal Writing. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Wang Tze-chung formalized Li Writing and made it distinctive from other styles. This is the fourth revolution in Chinese writing style. Due to its convenience most people adopted it.

In the Wei and Jin dynasties, a calligrapher named Chung Yiao advocated Wang's formalized Li Writing. Chung's "Congratulation Report" is widely known. His writing style was further developed and adopted throughout the nation, and has become the mother of today's Block Writing. This is the fifth reform in Chinese writing style.

7. Running Characters (Hsing Shu)

According to historical sources, Running Characters were initiated by Liu Teh-sheng of the Later Han Dynasty. This writing style is somewhere between Block Writing and Free Writing. It is called Hsing Shu because it resembles the walking of a person (the character "hsing" means walking). It is very convenient to use.

8. Free Writing (Tsao Shu)

Free writing, according to some scholars, was originally created by Shih Yiou of the Han Dynasty. He created it because he was in a hurry of writing something. Other scholars, however, are convinced that Free Writing was created in an even earlier period of time. A kind of ancient script written with brushes made of grass, for example, was believed to be the origin of the writing style.

Scholars throughout Chinese history had different views in this. For instance, Hu Shen said: "Free Writing arose during the prosperity of the Han Dynasty." Tsai Yung remarked: "During the power struggle among different provinces in the Chin Dynasty, messages and letters were exchanged promptly. The difficult (Small) Seal Script could hardly meet the urgent needs in battles. The writing style created on the spur of the moment then is what we call Free Writing now." Furthermore, while Chiang Shih questioned "Who knows the origin of Free Writing?", Wei Heng reported that "I know not the name of the (original) writer". Therefore, the invention and origin of Free Writing is still a matter of controversy.

In sum, most scholars seem to have agreed that Free Writing is a sort of draft writing. The fact that this writing style was inspired by daily (and often urgent) necessities is beyond doubt. Two calligraphers of the Han Dynasty, Tsui Yuan and Tu Du, were good at Free Writing. Because of the then emperor's fondness and praise, this writing style became popular and was practiced by all social classes. The emperor even made it an official writing style.

There is another kind of Free Writing, which was initiated by Chang Chih, a calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His strokes go right to the end with only occasional breaks, which is what is referred to today as "broken stroke with continuous meaning". It is also called Modern Free Writing.

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, Wang Hsi-chih and his son Wang Hsien-chih, together with other calligraphers such as Huang Hsiang and Sou Ching, excelled in Free Writing. They were famous at the time and throughout the history, and their time was the golden age of this writing style.

In the Tang Dynasty, Chang Hsu (also known as Chang Po-kao) was an expert in Free Writing. His writing was unrestrained and graceful, allowing him to give vent to his pent-up feelings and energy. His resolve was lofty, and he sought to transcend the mundane. He especially loved to drink; when ever he became drunk, he shouted wildly and so indulged in writing that he was reported to have blackened the water in a pond from much practice. According to one source, the so-called "Wild Free Writing" got its name because of Chang. He was therefore named the "Sage of Free Writing" by scholars of coming generations.

In Chang's time, Huai Su, a monk, was also a great calligrapher in Free Writing.

9. Standard Free Writing

Standard Free Writing was created by Yu Yo-ren, the late President of Republic of China's Control Yuan. He collected and examined through works of famous Free Writing calligraphers throughout the history, and eventually established a complete system that standardizes and unifies all writings in the style. He also created many new words and symbols for the style.

Yu set up four guiding principles in creating and appreciating works of Free Writing. Namely, the words have to be easy to recognize, easy to write, accurate and beautiful. Following these principles, Yu created numerous wonderful works in the hope of making calligraphy in general a popular art for everyone to enjoy. He also expected his system to save time and energy for generations to come. This is the sixth reform in Chinese writing style. It is hoped that people who are interested in this field may advance and improve his work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the origin and evolution of Chinese writing style can be summarized into the following points: