Calligraphy
Calligraphy is the term given to the art of writing. The story of writing is one of artistic development framed within the technical skills and material limitations of a person, time and place. A style of writing is described as a script. Modern calligraphy ranges from functional hand lettered inscriptions and designs to fine art pieces where the abstract expression of the handwritten mark may or may not supersede the legibility of the letters. Classical calligraphy differs from non-classical hand-lettering, though a calligrapher may create all of these; characters are historically disciplined yet fluid and spontaneous, improvised at the moment of writing. Calligraphy still continues to flourish in the forms of wedding and event invitations, original hand-lettered logo design, religious art, various graphic designs, cut stone inscriptions and memorial documents. Like the different art forms present in the world influenced by the cultural boundaries calligraphy also exists in the different regions of the world greatly influenced by the culture of that particular region. Some major forms of calligraphy are listed here below for your ready reference. Also look at the old english fonts homepage for other articles.
== Indian calligraphy ==
This form of calligraphy existed in the Indian subcontinent since very ancient time and all relics and famous Sanskrit works of literature and science. Asoka's edicts were engraved on stone. Copper also was a preferred medium for the inscriptions. In the northern part of India, birch bark was used as a writing surface as early as the 2nd century AD. Beside that many of the Indian manuscripts were written on palm leaves, even after the Indian languages were put on paper in the 13th century. Both sides of the leaves were used for writing. The palm leaf was an excellent surface for pen writing, making possible the delicate lettering used in many of the scripts of southern Asia.
== East Asian calligraphy ==
East Asian calligraphy typically uses ink brushes to write the characters. Calligraphy is considered an important art in East Asia and the most refined form of East Asian painting. Calligraphy has also influenced ink and wash painting, which is accomplished using similar tools and techniques. Calligraphy has influenced most major art styles in East Asia, including sumi-e, a style of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese painting based entirely on calligraphy. In ancient China, the oldest Chinese characters were carved on ox scapula and tortoise plastrons. During the divination ceremony, after the cracks were made, the characters were written with a brush on the shell or bone to be later carved.
With the development of Bronze ware script and Large Seal Script cursive signs continued. Moreover, each archaic kingdom of current China had its own set of characters. Cursive styles such as ''Xíngshu'' and ''Caoshu'' are "high speed" calligraphic styles, where each move made by the writing tool is visible. These styles especially like to play with stroke order rules, creating new visual effects. They quickly became artistical play, on the side of the official Regular style.
== Tibetan calligraphy ==
Calligraphy plays a vital role in Tibetan culture. The Tibetan script is derived from Indic scripts. Tibet has been a center of Buddhism for several centuries, and that religion places a great deal of significance on written word. Almost all high religious writing involved calligraphy, including letters sent by the Dalai Lama and other religious and secular authority. Calligraphy is particularly evident on their prayer wheels, although this calligraphy was forged rather than scribed, much like Arab and Roman calligraphy is often found on buildings. Although originally done with a reed, Tibetan calligraphers now use chisel tipped pens and markers as well.
== Persian calligraphy ==
It is believed that ancient Persian script was invented by about 500-600 BC. These scripts consisted of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal nail-shape letters. Nasta'liq is the most popular contemporary style among classical Persian calligraphy scripts and Persian calligraphers often term it as the bride of the calligraphy scripts. This style of calligraphy has been based on such a strong structure that changed very little since. It has very strict rules for graphical shape of the letters and for combination of the letters, words, and composition of the whole calligraphy piece.
== Islamic calligraphy ==
Islamic calligraphy is an aspect of Islamic art that has evolved alongside the religion of Islam and the Arabic language. Arabic calligraphy is associated with geometric Islamic art on the walls and ceilings of mosques as well as on the page. Contemporary artists in the Islamic world draw on the heritage of calligraphy to use calligraphic inscriptions. Calligraphy for Muslims is a visible expression of the highest art of all, the art of the spiritual world. Calligraphy has arguably become the most venerated form of Islamic art because it provides a link between the languages of the Muslims with the religion of Islam. There was a strong parallel tradition to that of the Islamic, among Aramaic and Hebrew scholars, seen in such works as the Hebrew illuminated bibles of the 9th and 10th centuries.
== Western calligraphy ==
Western calligraphy uses the Roman alphabet chiefly. The first century calligraphy may be seen on Roman square capitals carved on stones, Rustic capitals painted on walls, and Roman cursive for daily use. This trend continued into the second and third centuries using the Uncial, however writing withdrew to monasteries and was preserved there during the fourth and fifth centuries, when the Roman Empire finally fell and Europe entered the Dark Ages. When the empire fell, its literary influence remained. The Semi-uncial generated the Irish Semi-uncial, the small Anglo-Saxon. Each region seemed to have developed its own standards following the main monastery of the region which are mostly cursive and hardly readable. About the eleventh century, the Caroline evolved into the Gothic script, more cursive and for daily use. After the invention of Gutenberg, the Gutenberg script spread across Europe.
Sacred western calligraphy has some special features, such as the illumination of the first letter of each book or chapter. A decorative carpet page may precede the main text, filled with geometrical, bestial and colorful depictions. The western calligraphic script had strict rules and shapes. Writing had a rhythm and regularity to the letters, with a geometrical good order of the lines on the pages. Each character had a precise stroke order.
== Maya Calligraphy ==
The Dresden Codex written on a type of paper called amatl is one of only a few existing examples of Maya Calligraphy that escaped the destruction from the hands of “Spanish Conquistadores” and surviving till the present date.
== Tools ==
The principal tool for a calligrapher is the pen, which may be flat- or round-nibbed and the brush. For some decorative purposes, multi-nibbed pens or the steel brushes can also be used. Works have also been made with felt-tip and ballpoint pens. Ink for writing is usually water-based and much less viscous than the inks used in printing.