Styles of Chinese Calligraphy

There are four styles of Chinese Calligraphy: Seal Style [篆書], Official Style [棣書], Cursive or Running Style [行書] and Printed or Standard Style [楷書]. There is actually a fifth style called Grass Style [草書], but most people concentrate on the main four! Each of these styles have sub-styles. For example the Seal style has three sub-styles: Bone & Shell, Large Seal and Small Seal. The oldest style over 5,000 years old is Bone & Shell Style. The Evolution of Chinese Calligraphy is as follows: Seal Style, Official Style (the dictionary was invented), Grass Style (many people wanted a way to speed up writing but many found it hard to understand), Printed or Standard Style (used to print newspapers) and Cursive or Running Style ( a more understandable script but not as difficult as Grass Style). Below is a book with examples of the different styles in particular a comparison of all the Chinese Calligraphy styles.

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Here is a book on Seal Style

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