Chinese Calligraphy (English-Chinese Edition): A Step-by-Step Textbook for Learning Brush, Structure & Composition

What Is This Book?

Learning Chinese Calligraphy was published by Peking University Press in 2008. It is a bilingual Chinese-English textbook designed specifically for international students and overseas calligraphy enthusiasts, and is part of the "Peking University Edition Chinese as a Foreign Language Textbook · General Elective Course Series." The book has 208 pages and uses a Chinese-English bilingual layout, with explanations in simplified Chinese paired with examples in traditional Chinese, balancing writing standards and the presentation of traditional calligraphy aesthetics.

What Will You Get After Learning It?

The book focuses on three core aspects of learning calligraphy: brush movement techniques, the structural forms of Chinese characters, and the layout of characters and whole pieces. The theory section consists of 11 chapters, systematically explaining the evolution of Chinese script styles, the choice of writing tools, and the essentials of holding and moving the brush. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the stylistic features of the four major schools of regular script. The practice section includes 14 progressive exercises, ranging from basic stroke training all the way to the layout of a complete piece, so that you can not only "understand it" but also "write it."

Who Is This Book For?

• Overseas calligraphy enthusiasts with zero prior experience: No Chinese foundation is required. English explanations and Chinese examples are presented side by side, so you can follow along from page one.

• Overseas students learning Chinese: Calligraphy practice and Chinese character recognition advance together. The process of writing calligraphy is also a process of deepening your memory of Chinese characters.

• Chinese language teachers and calligraphy classes: The content is arranged to fit the pace of classroom teaching and can be used directly as a companion textbook for Chinese-as-a-foreign-language culture courses.

• Anyone who wants to systematically self-study calligraphy: The 14 exercises progress from easy to difficult, allowing you to move forward step by step without a teacher present.