There are many resources which can support your study of Chinese Calligraphy. Obviously, the main point about choosing a text is that it is accessible by you at the time you need it. I would suggest that the study of Chinese Calligraphy is endlessly fascinating and can be a lifetimes work (as attested by a great many Chinese Calligraphers). This will mean that no one text will take you through from beginner to master. Having said that, a good foundation text will always be of assistance.
If you have navigated directly to this page please do look through the rest of our web resources on these pages: Chinese Calligraphy. Please let us know if there is something missing as we endeavour to provide a Chinese Calligraphy resource that is useful to all practitioners of the art.
The one thing that you will definitely need is a Chinese – English dictionary. Google Translate is very good and I use it for quick cross-checks but it does not include all Traditional characters at the moment. Give it long enough and I am sure that it will but for now a very comprehensive paper (or electronic) dictionary will always be of assistance.
A brief selection of useful Chinese Calligraphy texts:
| Title | Author | ISBN | Press | Comments |
| Chinese Calligraphy (Standard script for beginners) | Qu Lei Lei | 0-7141-2425-7 | The British Museum Press | A slim and quick volume useful as a quick reference |
| The Simple Art of Chinese Calligraphy | Qu Lei Lei | 1-903116-49-X | Cico Books Ltd | A larger volume which includes some fun projects |
| The Complete Guide to Chinese Calligraphy | Qu Lei Lei | 978-1-904991-86-1 | Cico Books | A more comprehensive volume which goes into more detail along with showing the five major scripts |
| How to: Chinese Regular Script Calligraphy for Beginners | Zong Jianye (Translated by Wen Jingen with Pauline Cherrett) | 978-7-119-04861-1 | Foreign Languages Press | A comprehensive reference with lots of essential classics for the discerning practitioner |
It is worth noting that when you join the Chinese Brush Painters Society, as of when I write this, a Calligraphy book is included as part of a years’ subscription.
Enjoy your Chinese Calligraphy practice and please post back any resources you find particularly useful.
Happy practicising
Paul
Double Happiness Studio MH 