Semi-cursive script: Difference between revisions

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{{shortShort description|Cursive styleStyle of Chinese writing that is not as cursive as grassChinese scriptcharacters}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}

{{Infobox writing system

|name=Semi-cursive script

|type=[[Logographic]]

|languages=[[Old Chinese]], [[Middle Chinese]], [[Modern language|Chinese]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Korean language|Korean]]

|time=[[Han Dynastydynasty]] to present

| fam1 = [[Oracle bone script]]<br>
| fam2 = [[Seal script]]<br>
| fam3 = [[Clerical script]]<br>
| fam4 = [[Cursive script (East Asia)|Cursive script]]

| children = [[Regular script]]

|children=[[Regular script]]<br>[[Zhuyin]]<br>[[Simplified Chinese]]<br>[[Chu Nom]]<br>[[Khitan small script|Khitan script]]<br>[[Jurchen script]]<br>[[Tangut script]]

| sample=Lanting_P3rd.jpg

| imagesize=200px

|unicode=4E00–9FFF, 3400–4DBF, 20000–2A6DF, 2A700–2B734, 2F00–2FDF, F900–FAFF

|iso15924=

}}

{{Infobox Chinese

{{Chinese

|float=left

|pic=Semi-Cur Eg.svg

|picsize=100px

|piccap=Traditional characters for "semiSemi-cursive script" written in [[regular script]] (left) and semi-cursive script (right).

|t={{linktext|lang=zh|行書}}

|s={{linktext|lang=zh|行书}}

|l=walking/running script<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |first=ShozoShōzō |last=SatoSatō |author-link=Shōzō Satō|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1183131287 |title=Shodo : theThe quiet art of Japanese Zen calligraphy : learn the wisdom of Zen through traditional brush painting|dateyear=2014 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn=978-4-8053805-120431204-9|oclc=1183131287}}</ref>

|p=xíng shūxíngshū

|bpmf={{bpmfsp|ㄒㄧㄥˊ |ㄕㄨ}}

|j=hang4 syu1

|j=hang⁴ syu¹|h=hang¹¹ su²⁴

|h={{tonesup|hang11 su24}}

|poj=hâng-su|wuu=ghaon^平 sy^平

|poj=hâng-su

|kanji={{linktext|lang=ja|行書}}

|poj=hâng-su|wuu=ghaon^平 sy^平

|kanji=行書

|kana=ぎょうしょ

|romaji=gyōsho

|hangul={{linktext|lang=ko|행서}}

|hanja={{linktext|lang=ko|行書}}

|rr=haengseo

|mc={{IPA|/ɦˠæŋ.ɕɨʌ/}}

|qn={{linktext|lang=viubl|hành thư}}<br />{{linktext|lang=vi|chữ hành}}

|hn={{linktext|lang=vi|行書}}<br />{{linktext|lang=vi|𡨸行}}

|hn={{ubl|行書|𡨸行}}

}}

'''Semi-cursive script''', also known as '''running hand script''', is a style of [[Chinese calligraphy|calligraphy]] whichthat emerged in [[China]] during the [[Han dynasty]] (202&nbsp;BC{{snd}}220&nbsp;AD). The style is used to write [[Chinese characters]] and is abbreviated slightly where a character’scharacter's strokes are permitted to be visibly connected as the writer writes, but not to the extent of the [[Cursive script (East Asia)|cursive style]].<ref name=":0">{{Citecite web |lastaccess-date=Calligraphy|first=Beyond2021-08-14 |title=Semi-cursive5 script (行書,styles gyousho)in - BeyondChinese Calligraphy |url=httpshttp://beyond-calligraphywww.comcolumbia.edu/2010~xc2282/03calligraphy/05/semi-cursive-script-行書-gyousho/|access-date=2021-05-17calligraphy.html |website=beyond-calligraphywww.com|language=en-UScolumbia.edu}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> Chinese calligraphy is written using the [[Four Treasures of the Study|Four Treasure of the Study]], the writing brush, ink, ink stone and paper. Though the semi-cursive style is not taught to students officially, it is a popular style used in modern handwriting.<ref name=":1" /> In order to produce legible work using the semi-cursive style, a series of writing conventions areis followed, including the linking of the strokes, simplification and merging strokes, adjustments to stroke order and the distribution of text of the work.<ref name=":1" />

One of the most notable calligraphers who used this style was [[Wang Xizhi]], (303–361). Wang is known for his workthe ''[[Lantingji Xu|]]'' ('Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection]]'' (''Lantingji Xu''), produceda work published in 353 CE. This workwhich remains highly influential into China,calligraphers asthroughout well as outside of China where calligraphy using Chinese characters are still in practice, such asthe [[Japan]] and [[KoreaSinosphere]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Wendan|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9780824860691 |title=Chinese Writing and Calligraphy |dateyear=2010-05-31 |publisher=University of HawaiiHawaiʻi Press|doi=10.1515/9780824860691 |isbn=978-0-8248824-606986069-1}}</ref> AlthoughSemi-cursive the original workscript is longprominent lost,in themodern workChinese hassociety been copied multiple times, evendespite the mistakeslack withinof theofficial workeducation duefor toit, itsa highstatus regard.aided <ref>{{Cite web|title=Chinese Calligraphy,by the ancient artintroduction of handwriting in China|url=https://www.chinasage.info/calligraphy.htm|access-date=2021-05-28|website=www.chinasage.info}}</ref> In modern times, semi-cursive script has been used for writing with [[fountain penspen]], and there have been proposals to allow for customizable fonts on computerss.

== History ==

The Chinese writing system has been borrowed and used in East Asian countries, including Japan, Korea and Vietnam for thousands of years due to China’sChina's extensive influence, technology and large territory. As a result, the culture of calligraphy and its various styles spread across the region, including semi-cursive script.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Li|first=Yu|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1114273437|title=The Chinese writing system in Asia : anAn interdisciplinary perspective|date=2020|isbn=978-1-000-69906-7|___location=London|oclc=1114273437}}</ref>

=== China ===

The semi-cursive style was developed in the late-Eastern Han Dynasty. It is said that the style was derived from the [[clerical script]] by Liu Desheng due to the need for a faster way to write. The style was further developed by notable calligrapher Wang Xizhi and his son [[Wang Xianzhi (calligrapher)|Wang Xianzhi]], also a calligrapherdynasty.<ref name=":0" /> Script in this style is written in a more curvaceous style than the regular script, however not as illegible as the cursive script.<ref name=":4" />

One of the most notable calligraphers to produce work using the semi-cursive style is Wang Xizhi, where his work, ''Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection'' was written in 353 AD.<ref name=":1" /> The work included the character [[:wikt:之|之]], a possessive particle, twenty-one times all in different forms. The difference in form was generated by Wang under the influence of having alcohol with his acquaintances. He had wanted to reproduce the work again since it was in his liking, but to no avail. ''Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection'' is still included in the some of the world’sworld's most notable calligraphy works and remains highly influential in the calligraphy world.<ref name=":1" />

The semi-cursive style was also the basis of the techniques used to write with the [[fountain pen]] when Western influence was heavy in China, in the early 20th century.<ref name=":1" /> In the digital age,Although it hasis beennot proposedofficially taught to encode Chinese characters usingstudents, the "trackstyle andhas pointproceeded set"to method,become whichthe allowsmost userspopular toChinese makescript theirin ownmodern personalizedtimes.<ref semi-cursivename=":1" fonts./><ref name=":2">{{Cite journalbook|last1=Wu|first1=Yao|last2=Jiang|first2=Jie|last3=Li|first3=Yi|datetitle=December 2018 International Joint Conference on Information, Media and Engineering (ICIME)|titlechapter=A Method of Chinese Characters Changing from Regular Script to Semi-Cursive Scrip Described by Track and Point Set|urldate=http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/icime.December 2018.00041|journal=2018 International Joint Conference on Information, Media and Engineering (ICIME)|pages=162–167|publisher=IEEE|doi=10.1109/icime.2018.00041|isbn=978-1-5386-7616-5|s2cid=58012641}}</ref> In the digital age, it has been proposed to encode Chinese characters using the "track and point set" method, which allows users to make their own personalized semi-cursive fonts.<ref name=":2"/>

=== Japan ===

[[File:Calligraphy of Nobuyuki Abe.jpg|thumb|Japanese calligraphy written in the semi-cursive style.]]

Calligraphy culture from China was introduced to Japan in around 600AD CE600 and havehas been practiced tillup todayto the modern day. Although Japan originally used Chinese characters (called ''kanji'' in [[Japanese language|Japanese]]) to represent words of the spoken language, there were still parts of the spoken language that could not be written using Chinese characters.<ref name=":4" /> The phonetic writing systems, [[hiragana]] and [[katakana]], were developed as a result of the semi-cursive and cursive styles.<ref name=":4" /> During the [[Heian period|Heian Period]], a large amountnumber of calligraphy works waswere written in the semi-cursive style because the roundedness of the style allowed for a natural flow between Chinese characters (''kanji'') and hiragana.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bernard|first1=Kyoko|last2=Nakata|first2=Yujiro|last3=Woodhill|first3=Alan|last4=Nikovskis|first4=Armis|date=1973|title=The Art of Japanese Calligraphy.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2383576|journal=Monumenta Nipponica|volume=28|issue=4|pages=514|doi=10.2307/2383576|jstor=2383576|issn=0027-0741}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Boudonnat|first=Louise|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51553636|title=Traces of the brush : theThe art of Japanese calligraphy|date=2003|publisher=Chronicle|others=Harumi Kushizaki|isbn=2-02-059342-4|___location=San Francisco|oclc=51553636}}</ref> In the [[Edo period]], general trends have been noticed where semi-cursive was used with hiragana in mixed script for "native" literature and books translated for commoners, while [[regular script]] kanji was used alongside katakana for Classical Chinese works meant to be read by scholars.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hisada |first=Yukio |title=グローバル日本研究クラスター報告書 |date=2018-03-31 |volume=1 |pages=170–180 |chapter= The Usage of Sentences Mixing Regular-Script Kanji and Hiragana in the Latter Part of the Edo Period |chapter-url=https://ir.library.osaka-u.ac.jp/repo/ouka/all/68062/|publisher=[[Osaka University]]}}</ref>

=== Korea ===

Chinese calligraphy appeared in Korea at around 2nd or 3rd century CEAD. Korea also used Chinese characters (called ''[[hanja]]'' in [[Korean language|Korean]]) until the invention of the Korean alphabet, ''[[hangul]]'', in 1443.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Choi|first=Yearn-hong|date=2016|title=Choe Chi-won, great Tang and Silla poet|work=The Korean Times|url=httphttps://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2016/07/142_208963.html|access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref> Even then, many calligraphers did not choose to use the newly created ''hangul'' writing system and continued to write calligraphy and its various styles using Chinese characters.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Ju|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/162136010|title=China, Japan, Korea : cultureCulture and customs|date=2006|publisher=BookSurge|others=John Brown|isbn=1-4196-4893-4|___location=North Charleston, South Carolina|oclc=162136010}}</ref> In this environment, semi cursive script started seeing use in Korea during the [[Joseon Dynastydynasty]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-07-30|title=Categories of calligraphy|url=https://swmuseum.suwon.go.kr/eng/html/02exhibit_02_04.jsp|website=swmuseum.suwon.go.kr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-07-30|title=Collection of Calligraphic Works by Successive Kings from Seonjo to Sukjong -– Kings of Joseon (Seonjo~Sukjong)|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/collection-of-calligraphic-works-by-successive-kings-from-seonjo-to-sukjong/5QE0w581sbMB3A|websitework=[[Jangseogak]]|publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]]|via=Google Arts & Culture}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==

Semi-cursive script aims for an informal, natural movement from one stroke to the next. When writing in the regular script, the end of each stroke is carefully highlighted, ensuring the brush is lifted off the paper after the end of each stroke before the next. This makes it clearly distinct from the next stroke to be made. In the semi-cursive style, the calligrapher lifts the brush less often, with the intention of creating a “softer” style.<ref name=":0" /> Another distinct feature of this style is being able to pinpoint where each stroke originates and which stroke is it followed by.<ref name=":4" />[[File:LantingXu Shenglongben.jpg|thumb|314x314px|Traced copy of the "Preface to the Orchard Pavilion Collection" by Wang Xizhi, written in semi-cursive script|left]]

Semi-cursive script aims for an informal, natural movement from one stroke to the next.<ref name=":0" /> Another distinct feature of this style is being able to pinpoint where each stroke originates and which stroke is it followed by. In order to be able to write in the semi-cursive style, the calligrapher should be able to write in the [[regular script]] and know the order the strokes should be written in.<ref name=":4" />

In order to be able to write in the semi-cursive style, the calligrapher should be able to write in the [[regular script]] and know the order the strokes should be written in.<ref name=":4" /> Usually, the stroke order of writing each character is followed, but there are rare situations where this is not the case.<ref name=":0" /> Traditionally, Chinese calligraphy is written vertically from right to left.

Many calligraphers choose to use this style when they need to write things down quickly, but still require the characters to be readable. In Japan, most calligraphy works are done in this style due to its ability to create a style unique to the calligrapher in a small timeframe.<ref name=":4" />

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== Uses ==

[[File:Guangdong (Chinese characters).svg|thumb|153x153px|Chinese characters for Guangdong written in simplified Chinese on top, traditional Chinese on the bottom.]]

The semi-cursive style is practiced for aesthetic purposes, and a calligrapher may choose to specialisespecialize in any script of their preference. The semi-cursive style’s smooth transition and omission of some strokes of the semi-cursive style had also contributed to the [[Simplified Chinese characters|simplification of Chinese characters]] by the [[China|People’sPeople's Republic of China]]. <ref name=":5" />

== Writing conventions ==

=== Stroke linking ===

One of the characteristics of semi-cursive script is the joining of consecutive strokes. To execute this, one must write a character in an uninterrupted manner and only stop the brush movement when required. In some scenarios, the strokes may not be visibly linked, but it is possible to grasp the direction in which each stroke is drawn.<ref name=":1" />

=== Stroke merging and character simplification ===

The fast brush movement needed for the semi-cursive style allows a decrease in the number of strokes needed to produce a character. However, this is done in a way to preserve readability by considering the stroke order of each Chinese character in most cases. There are no solid rules to the way in which characters are simplified, and it is up to the calligrapher to display their personal style and preferences.<ref name=":1" />[[File:Wang Xizhi.jpg|thumb|231x231px|Artwork of the calligrapher, Wang Xizhi|left]]

=== Stroke order modification ===

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{{Chinese Calligraphies}}

{{Chinese language}}

{{Writing systems}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Semi-Cursive Script}}

[[Category:Chinese characters]]

[[Category:Chinese script style]]

[[Category:Logographic writing systems]]

[[Category:Writing systems]]