Learn calligraphy: semi-cursive script - rules of writing - rule #2

To read more on other rules of writing in semi-cursive script (行書), please see the the full list.

Merging two or more strokes into one brush stroke usually alters the appearance of given character. The trick of Chinese calligraphy is to change the structure of a character, without distorting the balance.

Radical changes, such as altering of the starting point of a given stroke, will distort the shape of a given kanji radical. In the the above diagram, the character 高, or more precisely 髙, which is a kanji variant (異体字)  of 高, has the 冂 (upside-down box radical) disformed by a change in the starting point of a second stroke of that radical. The steep slanting vertical line in the "squashed" radical 冂, corresponds with the top thick vertical line, forming a visual enclosure for the middle part of the character. The kanji seems distorted, but it is balanced. That is a beauty and magic of semi-cursive and cursive (草書) scripts. 

The entire structure of 髙 is "fastened" with the unbriken line (連綿) technique, which adds additional drama and movement. 

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rule #1

semi-cursive script menu

rule #3