The three perfections: calligraphy

Commentary
The three perfections: calligraphy

The 'four treasures of the scholar's study' were devoted above all to pursuing the 'three perfections': calligraphy, poetry, and painting. It is impossible to assess the impact of paper on Chinese culture without some attempt to appreciate each of these and the relationship between them.

Calligraphy is commonly regarded as the highest of Chinese artforms, and is listed by UNESCO among the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Appreciating this craft form is, self-evidently, a daunting challenge for anyone unable to read Chinese.  The three brief videos below offer some assistance in this difficult task.

Credit: Howard Hotson (April 2019)