Calligraphy

Calligraphy (from Greek κάλλος kallos "beauty" + γραφή graphẽ "writing") is the art of beautiful writing (Mediavilla 1996: 17). more...

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A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner" (Mediavilla 1996: 18). A style of calligraphy is described as a hand or alphabet (Johnston 1909: Plate 6).

Calligraphy ranges from functional inscriptions and hand lettering to fine art pieces where the expression of the handwritten mark may take precedence over the legibility of the letters (Mediavilla 1996). Well-crafted calligraphy differs from typography and non-classical hand-lettering; characters are historically disciplined yet fluid and spontaneous, improvised at the moment of writing (Pott 2005; Zapf 2006). To use 20th century master Edward Johnston's words, "all Rules must give way to Truth and Freedom" (1909: contents page).

Calligraphy continues to flourish in the forms of wedding and event invitations, font design/ typography, original hand-lettered logo design, commissioned calligraphic art, testimonials, maps, and other works involving writing (for example Letter Arts Review).

East Asian calligraphy

East Asian calligraphy typically uses ink brushes to write Chinese characters (called Hanzi in Chinese, Kanji in Japanese, and Hanja in Korean). Calligraphy (in Chinese, Shufa 書法, in Japanese Shodō 書道, in Korean, Seoye 書藝, all meaning "the way of writing") is considered an important art in East Asia and the most refined form of East Asian painting.

Calligraphy has also influenced ink and wash painting, which is accomplished using similar tools and techniques. Calligraphy has influenced most major art styles in East Asia, including sumi-e, a style of Chinese and Japanese painting based entirely on calligraphy.

Indian Calligraphy

Most Indian calligraphy has religious influences. The lack of modern printing technology resulted in a rich heritage of calligraphy, in almost all of the dozens of Indian languages.

In particular, the Sikh religion provides a rich collection. The holy book of the Sikhs has been traditionally handwritten and illuminated examples abound.

Tibetan Calligraphy

Calligraphy is central in Tibetan culture. The script is derived from Indic scripts. As in China, the nobles of Tibet, such as the High Lamas and inhabitants of the Potala Palace, were usually capable calligraphers. Tibet has been a center of Buddhism for several centuries, and that religion places a great deal of significance on written word. This, however, does not give us a large body of secular pieces, although they do exist (but are usually related in some way to Tibetan Bhuddism). Almost all high religious writing involved calligraphy, including letters sent by His Holiness, the Oracle of the Potala Palace, and other religious, and secular, authority. Calligraphy is particularly evident on their prayer wheels, although this calligraphy was forged rather than scribed, much like Arab and Roman calligraphy is often found on buildings. Although originally done with a brush, Tibetan calligraphers now use chisel tipped pens and markers as well.

Read more at Wikipedia.org