Chinese calligraphy, which is handwriting with a Chinese writing brush, is one of China's traditional art forms. Practicing calligraphy, one needs to pay attention to the proper way of holding the brush; the principles of putting down the eight basic strokes, i.e., dot strokes, horizontal strokes, vertical stokes, rising strokes, left-falling strokes, right-falling strokes, hook strokes; and turning strokes; and the overall structure and positioning of the tops and bottoms, the left and the right, and the inner and the outer parts of each character. Calligraphy as an art form has a very long history in China. Many distinguished calligraphers have emerged in the history of Chinese calligraphy, each with the artist’s distinctive style, usually a reflection of individual temperament and character.

Lan Pavilion Calligraphy Festival

March 3rd in Lunar Calendar is when the Lan Pavilion Calligraphy Festival is held. This is a special occasion for calligraphers from home and abroad to exchange their ideas and practice calligraphy with each other. During the festival, many calligraphers gather at Lan Pavilion (Orchid Pavilion), admiring Wang Xizhi who was regarded as the Sage of Calligraphy, composing poems, and drinking wine. Performances themed on calligraphy are also provided to entertain festival attendees

Yuecheng Calligraphers’ Association

The Yuecheng Calligraphers’ Association was formally launched in January, 2004 to serve calligraphy professionals and amateurs. The major function of the association is to organize exhibitions, competitions, forums and educational programs on calligraphy. In June 2008, the Square Calligraphy Road Show on 2008 Beijing Olympics was held by the association in Yuecheng District, Shaoxing.

How to appreciate Chinese Calligraphy?

Calligraphy is considered the highest form of expression in the visual arts of China and can be appreciated on many levels.

• Fundamentally, it may be viewed as words, as each character signifies a meaning. That meaning can be elevated through the medium of a poem, correct in rhyme and meter and conveying concepts through content and form.
• Another level indicates that calligraphy represents a visual, aesthetic expression of brushwork, in rhythms and relationships of space created by ink and paper.

At first you may think that as a Westerner, the appreciation and comprehension of Chinese calligraphy may seem daunting. You would probably say to your partners, if the meaning of the actual characters is not understood, then something essential to the work will be missed. But this is not necessarily the case, as more fundamental and universal elements can be realized.

• The spatial tensions and movement of the brush in calligraphy should be viewed as a presentation of forms in a particular time and space – an art with infinite possibilities. To distinguish style, one looks for the different ways elements may be combined in search of a new effect.
• In terms of form, each stroke is traditionally observed for itself and how it relates to connecting strokes when combined in a specific order that composes each character and in turn, each line of prose or poetry. This prescribed order should in fact imitate some of the fundamental aspects of nature and create a natural balance in the character. Every stroke may be seen as an extension of nature’s forces. There can be no hesitation in the brushwork, as in a unique moment of creation, the artist is caught up in the emotion and not consciously thinking of the calligraphy.
• As the presentation of forms in a specific time and space, calligraphy is a kind of performance art. A viewer can recreate every movement of the brush and mentally follow the actual process of creation in all its consecutive phases. One has the sense of actually watching the calligrapher performing. In this way, the personality of the calligrapher is revealed through his calligraphy.