Chinese Characters: The Art of Painting the Word

The strokes used in Chinese characters were originally fashioned after bird tracks and shadows cast by trees. They are beautifully expressive even to those who do not understand their meaning. To the Chinese, writing is not only a means of communication, it also has the force to transform reality. This book introduces the history of Chinese writing and gives many examples of the way in which simple brush strokes are combined to convey not only words but also complete ideas.