The Difference between Western and Chinese Calligraphy

Calligraphy is a beautiful type of writing that lends an air of sophistication to anything it's used on. To the casual observer, one piece of calligraphy might look much the same as any other. But each calligrapher has his own subtle differences in style, and there are also many different types of calligraphy that one may encounter. For all the info on Calligraphy you can have a look at a resource such as The Calligrapher's Bible. There you will find all the basics plus so much more.

The two most common types of calligraphy are Western and Chinese. Here are some facts and characteristics of each type.

Western Calligraphy

Western calligraphy dates back nearly as far as the Roman alphabet, which came into use around 600 BC. One of the first types of Western calligraphy that resembled the art as we know it today was called rustic capitals or canonized capitals. Rustic capitals were similar to their predecessors, Roman square capitals, but whereas square capitals were extremely uniform and intended for use in inscriptions, rustic capitals were more compressed, curvier, and better suited to pen and ink writing.

Uncial script developed in the second and third centuries AD. Like rustic capitals, it consisted entirely of capital letters, but it was more rounded in order to be more suitable for use on new, smoother papers such as parchment and vellum. Uncial was frequently used by monks to copy religious texts.

Western calligraphy underwent many more changes throughout the years, with the development of such styles as Semi-Uncial, Caroline and Gothic. The Gothic style was incorporated in to Johannes Gutenberg's original printing press, making it the world's first typeface.

Although the printing press made it much faster and easier to produce copies of scripts, Western calligraphy has stood the test of time. Modern Western calligraphy is done with pens and ink. Many calligraphers still use reed or quill pens, but fountain and felt-tip pens are also options.

Chinese Calligraphy

Also known as East Asian calligraphy, Chinese calligraphy is practiced in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. But true to its name, Chinese calligraphy originated and was developed in China. Although some Chinese scholars disagree, Chinese calligraphy is generally considered an art in the countries that practice it.

Chinese calligraphy has also undergone many transformations in its centuries of existence. The first known incarnation of the writing style was Jiaguwen, which has been found on carvings that date back to ancient China. Calligraphy was also done with brushes and ink in those times, but samples of such did not survive the test of time.

Until around 220 BC, each kingdom of China had a unique set of characters. But emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered that a set of standardized characters, called Xiaozhuan, be created. Lishu and Kaishu styles were subsequently created, and Kaishu is the style that is most often used today.

The most notable differences between Western and Chinese calligraphy are the alphabets and mediums used. But each style has its own colorful history. Have a look at The Calligrapher's Bible