Diane Wolff

As any language is the soul of its people, the Chinese language is the soul of China. This book, an introduction to the Chinese language, is a key to the Chinese soul.

This unique and original work is the first to explore for young readers the oldest picture-language in the world. In narrative and photographs, it shows how Chinese artists, through the medium of the bruth, have captured in their writing the beauty and energy of nature.

It explins Chinese characters, what they are, how they work and how to look at them. It introduces calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, with illustrations of the various styles.

It not only gives an understanding of this meditative art, but is a simply how-to guide for the budding calligrapher. The easy-to-follow instructions tell what materials are needed, how to hold the brush, what is the correct stroke order. It also gives the nine-fold square as a practics aid.

Aside from its visual appeal, this introduction to Chinese writing is a fascinating experience of the most highly prized of all the arts of China.

Calligraphy by Jeannette Chien
Photographs: Collection C. C. Wang