Semi-cursive script

Semi-cursive script
Script type
Time period
Han dynasty to present
LanguagesChinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean
Related scripts
Parent systems
Child systems
Regular script
 This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.
Semi-cursive script
"Semi-cursive script" written in regular script (left) and semi-cursive script (right).
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese行書
Simplified Chinese行书
Literal meaningrunning script[1]
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinxíngshū
Bopomofoㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄕㄨ
Wu
Romanizationghaon sy
Hakka
Romanizationhang11 su24
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinghang4 syu1
Southern Min
Hokkien POJhâng-su
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese/ɦˠæŋ.ɕɨʌ/
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabet
  • hành thư
  • chữ hành
Hán-Nôm
  • 行書
  • 𡨸行
Korean name
Hangul행서
Hanja行書
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationhaengseo
Japanese name
Kanji行書
Kanaぎょうしょ
Transcriptions
Romanizationgyōsho

Semi-cursive script, also known as running script, is a style of Chinese calligraphy that emerged during the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). The style is used to write Chinese characters and is abbreviated slightly where a character's strokes are permitted to be visibly connected as the writer writes, but not to the extent of the cursive style.[2] This makes the style easily readable by readers who can read regular script and quickly writable by calligraphers who require ideas to be written down quickly.[2] In order to produce legible work using the semi-cursive style, a series of writing conventions is followed, including the linking of the strokes, simplification and merging strokes, adjustments to stroke order and the distribution of text of the work.[3]

One of the most notable calligraphers who used this style was Wang Xizhi (303–361). Wang is known for the Lantingji Xu ('Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection'), a work published in 353 which remains highly influential to calligraphers throughout the Sinosphere.[3] Semi-cursive script is prominent in modern Chinese society despite the lack of official education for it, a status aided by the introduction of fountain pens.

  1. ^ Satō, Shōzō (2014). Shodo: The quiet art of Japanese Zen calligraphy. Tuttle. ISBN 978-4-805-31204-9.
  2. ^ a b "5 script styles in Chinese Calligraphy". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
  3. ^ a b Li, Wendan (2010). Chinese Writing and Calligraphy. University of Hawaiʻi Press. ISBN 978-0-824-86069-1.

Developed by StudentB