- Seal Script (Zhuanshu): This is the oldest form of Chinese writing and was used from around 1500 BC to 221 BC. Seal script was mainly used for official documents and inscriptions on objects such as bronze vessels, jade, and pottery. The characters in seal script were pictographic, meaning that they resembled the objects they represented.
- Clerical Script (Lishu): This style evolved from the seal script and was used from around 200 BC to 200 AD. Clerical script was more simplified and cursive than seal script, making it easier to write quickly. It was commonly used for official documents and record-keeping.
- Standard Script (Kaishu): This style emerged during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) and became the standard form of Chinese writing. It is characterized by clear and regular strokes, making it easy to read and write. Standard script is still used in modern China as the primary form of writing.
- Grass Script (Caoshu): This cursive style of writing developed from clerical script during the Han Dynasty. It is characterized by rapid, flowing strokes that often make it difficult to read. Grass script was commonly used for personal correspondence, poetry, and drafts.
- Running Script (Xingshu): Running script is a semi-cursive style that falls between clerical script and grass script in terms of complexity. It was used for more formal purposes than grass script, such as letters, essays, and literary works.
These are some of the main types of writing used in ancient China. Each style has its own unique characteristics, and they evolved over time to meet the needs of different contexts and uses.