Author:子琼 | 2025-05-26 | Views:40

Regular Script (楷书/kǎishū), perfected during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), represents the standardized form of Chinese characters—clear, balanced, and timeless. Unlike the flowing spontaneity of Running Script or the abstraction of Cursive, Regular Script is the foundation of legibility, used in modern printing, education, and official documents.
Characteristics & Masters
Structure: Each stroke follows strict rules—horizontal lines tilt slightly upward, while vertical strokes anchor the character with stability.
Balance: The "Eight Principles of Yong" (永字八法) break down the character 永 ("eternity") into essential techniques.
Great Masters:
Ouyang Xun (欧阳询): His "Jiucheng Palace Stele" (九成宫醴泉铭) exemplifies disciplined elegance.
Yan Zhenqing (颜真卿): Bold, muscular strokes in "Nephew Memorial Stele" (祭侄文稿) convey emotional depth.
Liu Gongquan (柳公权): His "Mysterious Pagoda Stele" (玄秘塔碑) is the gold standard for learners.
Global Influence
Typography: Apple’s PingFang font adapts Regular Script’s clarity for digital screens.
Art Exhibitions: The Louvre’s 2023 "Order & Flow" exhibit juxtaposed Tang steles with Roman inscriptions, revealing universal ideals of harmony.
Education: Confucius Institutes worldwide use Regular Script primers—over 10 million students learn it annually.
Modern Revival:
Calligrapher Wang Xizhi’s "Orchid Pavilion" is now rendered in AR apps, where users trace strokes in mid-air. Meanwhile, AI tools like InkAI analyze handwriting styles, blending tradition with tech.