Calligraphy is the quintessence of Chinese culture. When the ancient Orientals carved the earliest abstract symbols on the walls of their cave houses, and on animal bones and tortoise shells, their symbolic action marked the beginning of the Chinese written language and civilization. At the same time, it indicated the beginning of the splendor of Chinese calligraphy. Why has Chinese calligraphy been able to survive several thousand years? How could it become a rare art independent of its functions for writing and recording events? What kind of close relations has it developed with the aesthetic standards, value concepts and cultural spirit of the Chinese people? How can we enter into this mysterious black-and white are world? This book introduces the origin, forms and development of Chinese calligraphy, and the various kinds of calligraphic styles and principles in a straightforward way. The author has devoted himself to research into the aesthetics of calligraphy for many years, and has developed his own theories on the changes and development of Chinese calligraphy. In this book, he focuses on introducing representative calligraphers in different historical periods and maintains that the reforms these famous