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Why do the Chinese think that calligraphy's so important?

In the Western tradition, calligraphy is the bailiwick of cowled monks bent over creamy vellum and richly worked leather. To a Westerner, calligraphy represents craftsmanship and artistry. The Chinese tradition is quite different. If your calligraphy is good, Chinese culture automatically assumes that you are a cultured and knowledgeable person. To understand the attitude that Chinese have towards this art, we have to dive deep into history ...

All the way back to a certain Kong Zi, later also known by the pseudo-Latin name of Confucius. He lived in a time of chaos, surrounded by the shards of the Qing dynasty, which had been created and shattered by the first despotic Qing emperor, Qing Shi-Huang. Kong Zi lived at the pleasure of warlords. He saw his countrymen brutally, casually, wastefully killed; the land laid waste, treachery and intrigue rife. Is it surprising that what Kong Zi called for was, first and foremost, order?

Kong Zi's idea of the ordered state depended largely on meritocracy. You need the best people if you want to do a good job, don't you? The early Han emperors, who came to power following this wartorn period, were wonderful people, I think. They might have been the sons of Heaven, but they believed in and started Imperial examinations for officials that were open to even the humblest farm boy.

In my opinion, these examinations are the key to why the Chinese people have such a fixation on good education. The examinations were in place before Christ was born; they survived into this century practically unchanged. They were the hope of the rural poor, a foundation stone of society. And they tested classical knowledge. That's why scholars were greatly respected in ancient China. Also held in awe were the scholarly arts — including a skillful hand to wield the brush for examination essays.

Yes, that's why many of my schoolmates today automatically assume that I'm a whiz at Chinese, when even passing Chinese exams is a back-breaking task for me. My brother swears that I only got decent grades in my Chinese 'A' levels because of my handwriting. The moral of the story? Practice your penmanship. :-) [E-Ching's brother: "Penpersonship!"]

A most incomplete list of related sites

Please note: I do not agree with all the opinions of the sites below, nor do I confirm that they are entirely factually correct/consistent with the material on this site.

Kong Zi - Confucius

Lots of biography and background on Confucius.

Condensed China - The Early Empire

A greatly condensed and very friendly history of China — this page is about the first dynasties when China became an empire.

Confucius, K'ung-fu-tzu [Kongfuzi]

A detailed explanation of Confucian philosophy.

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