{"id":91,"date":"2018-07-16T02:13:13","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T02:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/calligraphy\/?post_type=chapter&p=91"},"modified":"2019-01-10T12:29:30","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T12:29:30","slug":"evolution-of-characters-tools-techniques","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/intro-to-chinese-calligraphy\/chapter\/evolution-of-characters-tools-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"The Evolution Of Chinese Characters, Calligraphy Writing Tools, And Writing Techniques"},"content":{"raw":"
This chapter will introduce the earliest forms of calligraphic writing and provide a beginner's \"toolbox\" of materials and basic strokes.<\/em><\/div>\r\n

Part I. Culture<\/h1>\r\n

1 Evolution of Chinese Characters: Oracle Bones (\u7532\u9aa8\u6587)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\u7532\u9aa8\u6587\/ji\u01ce g\u016d w\u00e9n, or oracle bones, represent the earliest forms of Chinese writing (the middle to late Shang<\/em>\u00a0Dynasty \u5546\/sh\u0101ng, 1,500-1,000 BC). Etched on turtle shells and animal bones (see Figure 1), this crudely written script was thought to have divine implications by Shang<\/em>\u00a0rulers. Ever since, they have provided clues into the life and times of an era long considered mythological rather than historical. Their rudimentary characters resemble objects they represent. Thus, they are considered pictographs (\u8c61\u5f62\u5b57\/xi\u00e0ng x\u00edng z\u00ec).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"<\/td>\r\n\"\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nFigure 1:\u00a0Script on turtle shell and ox bone<\/i>\r\n
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Examples - Oracle Bone Script<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
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Pinyin<\/strong><\/td>\r\nm\u01ce<\/td>\r\nh\u01d4<\/td>\r\nsh\u012d<\/td>\r\nqu\u01cen<\/td>\r\nsh\u01d4<\/td>\r\nxi\u00e0ng<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Modern Form<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\u9a6c\/\u99ac<\/td>\r\n\u864e<\/td>\r\n\u8c55<\/td>\r\n\u72ac<\/td>\r\n\u9f20<\/td>\r\n\u8c61<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Meaning<\/strong><\/td>\r\nhorse<\/td>\r\ntiger<\/td>\r\nswine<\/td>\r\ndog<\/td>\r\nrat<\/td>\r\nelephant<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

2 Writing Tools and Materials: \u6587\u623f\u56db\u5b9d\/\u6587\u623f\u56db\u5bf3\/w\u00e9n f\u00e1ng s\u00ec b\u0103o (The Four Treasures of Study)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n