Learn Chinese calligraphy: semi-cursive script (行書) brush stokes tutorials

10 general rules of writing Chinese calligraphy in semi-cursive script

1.   Merging strokes that are separated in standard form
2.   Changing the starting point of a following stroke
3.   Dots merged in one single line
4.   Straight lines are represented by curved lines, sharp corners by loops
5.   Reduction of total number of strokes
6.   Lines are shortened or symbolised by dots
7.   Complex radicals are simplified
8.   There is a change in a positioning of given stroke
9.   Stroke order is altered
10.  Certain strokes can be exaggerated

Semi-cursive script (行書) is the last of the five core scripts of Chinese calligraphy to appear. It evolved during the second half of the Han Dynasty (漢朝, 206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.), in the second half of the 2nd century.
Semi-cursive script is a bridge between standard (楷書), clerical (隷書) and cursive (草書) scripts. Please see the history of Chinese and Japanese calligraphy menu for more detailed information.