Chinese+Visual+Arts+and+Music

Writing for the Soul** Many people in our world have messy and smeared hand writing. Do any of you? Wouldn't it be nice if you could write clearer? Well calligraphy is a form of writing and art that would be the solution to your problems. __Ever since calligraphy first started to become popular it has had vario us purposes, different styles, and the need for numerous utensils.__ Today calligraphy is not used in America but many people in China and Japan still use it. In China there are various purposes for why people use calligraphy. People do not just believe that calligraphy will improve their hand writing, but that it will also help with communication and spread many new ideas. People felt like they could set their souls free and voice their opinion through art and painting. Calligraphy was used for the way one wanted to see things, not just for show or personal appeal.
 * Valerie

There are many unique styles of calligraphy that people use. Calligraphy consists of countless characters that have many different faces. If you are feeling sad or depressed you would draw a person sitting on a broken down bench in the pouring rain bawling their eyes out. If you are feeling joyful and happy, you would draw a person sitting in a huge field full of yellow sun flowers, smiling up at the clear blue sky. Calligraphy is not just used in characters, but also in “five major styles: the Zhuan 

Shu-steal carving, Lishu-traditional official style, Kai Shu-standard form of writing Chinese, Xin Shu-running style, and Cao Shu cursive style” (Art Realization). These five styles of writing are commonly seen today and are used in everyday life. To express yourself through calligraphy, there are numerous materials needed: “The Four Treasures of study are brush; ink, ink slab, and paper in China” (Art Realization). The brush tip is usually made of white-goat hair, black-rabbit hair, and yellow-weasel hair. The brush handle on the other hand is made of smooth tan bamboo or hard brown wood. The ink stick is extremely rare and is “made of pines that grown on Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province” (Ministry of Culture). There is only one kind of paper that is used to get the best results and that is Xuan paper that is very soft and has a fine texture. The last material needed is the ink slab and it is not to dry, not to slippery, it is just right. With all the correct materials you can create an amazing masterpiece of calligraphy.

Calligraphy is a form of writing and art. You can express yourself the way you want to and learn to write straight at the same time. Calligraphy helped the spread of new ideas all around the world and elevates one to new heights of spirituality. Even though there are numerous materials and various styles, people can pick the type of art they want to have. Calligraphy reveals a deep understanding of art and writing. **__Works Citied __** "Chinese Calligraphy." __Art Realization China__. 2005. Art Realization. 19 Feb. 2009 .

"Chinese Calligraphy." __ChinaCulture.org__. 2003. Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. 19 Feb. 2009 . "Chinese Calligraphy." __Travel China Guide.com__. 1998. TravelChinaGuide.com. 19 Feb. 2009 []. The Communicator (telephone). Available [], March 13, 2009.

The Four Treasures (Calligraphy materials). Available [], March 13, 2009.

The Meaning of True Art (Calligraphy characters). Available [], March 13, 2009.

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