Calligraphy is China unique art, writing characters with brush, ink, rice paper and inkstone - the "four treasures of the study".
Five scripts: seal (oldest), clerical, regular (most standard - the beginner choice), running (flowing), and cursive (wild).
Appreciation: brush power (centred strokes), structure, composition and ink shades; great works are "alive with spirit".
Masters: Wang Xizhi (Lanting Preface, best running script), Yan Zhenqing (model regular script), Huai Su (cursive).
Try it: bookstores and sights offer experience classes; ink, brushes and copybooks are cheap; start with red tracing.
Culture: calligraphy cultivates the self - "the character shows the person"; a scroll or your Chinese name in calligraphy is a fine souvenir.
