Characters are one of the most fascinating aspects of the Chinese language and occupy a prominent place in Chinese culture. Good handwriting is also very important in learning Chinese: the strokes that make up the characters must be written in a certain rigidly specified order, and they must also be written in a special way. This book is a great introductory manual for writing Chinese characters prepared specifically for an English speaking audience. The author guides the reader through the fundamentals of writing and introduces the different types of script used in China today, their evolution, their place in Chinese tradition, and the relations among them. Also included is an explanation of how to look up characters in a Chinese dictionary. This attractive and charming book, full of anecdotes and calligraphic aphorisms, is both a useful classroom tool and an enjoyable reading experience for anyone with an interest in the language and culture of China.
By Johan Bjorksten, Paperback, 123 pages, 9.3'' x 6''
