Chido Ancient Chinese Calligraphy

Incorporating the ancient Chidu (a model of letter writing) manuscripts into the calligraphy research, invoking related documents and materials, this treatise is an attempt to give an outline of the Chidu manuscripts development against the background of different stages of calligraphic history, an insight look into the dynamic behind its development and to enunciate its historical importance and value. This treatise falls into three parts: Introduction, First Part and Second Part. The contents of the Introduction include the following: How does the idea of the Chidu manuscript research come about? How is the research going? What is its significance and method? In addition, this part also includes definition, origin, characteristics and classification. First Part, in which general survey of the Chidu manuscript's development in the history is made dynastically. The description is divided by 5 periods, namely, Pre-Qin,Qin and Han Period; Wei-Jin North and South Period; Sui-Tang Period; Song-Yuan Period, Ming-Qing Period. Invoking historical documents, materials and manuscripts, expounding on circulation, chirographical characteristic and backdrop of Chidu manuscript to make as clear and all-around a view as possible, this part is meant to make a comprehensive survey about the ancient Chidu manuscripts, to find out skeleton and outline of its development. In this part, the emphasis is placed on the Chidu manuscripts. Second Part falls into four chapters, "On character","On Style", "On Chirography" and "On Value", each of which looks into particular subject. Placing the Chidu manuscripts in the field of calligraphy, this part probes into questions surrounding the Chidu calligraphy, which is the emphasis of the part.Not a detailed research about the Chidu manuscripts dated in certain period, the treatise tries to make an overview of entire history of the Chidu manuscripts, covering more than 2000 years, from Pre-Qin Era to Qing Dynasty. Limited by the length, the treatise made only a sketchy outline regarding related issues to which the treatise is only an introduction, with a view to eliciting further and more valuable research.