汉字书法，是汉族文化的一种独特表现艺术，被誉为：无言的诗，无形的舞，无图的画，无声的乐。中国书法包含六大书体：行书、草书、隶书、篆书、楷书、燕书。
The calligraphictradition
汉字书法传统
Chinese calligraphy is a form of calligraphy widely practicedin China and revered in the Chinese cultural sphere, includes Japan, Korea and vietnam. The calligraphic tradition of east Asia originated and developed from china.
中国书法是汉字书写艺术的一种形式。它在汉学文化圈（中国、日本、韩国、越南）得到广泛应用和尊崇。东亚的书法传统源于中国。
Evolution and Styles
书法历史演变和风格
Chinese characters can be traced to 4000BC. The contemporary Chinese characters set principles were already visible in ancient China’s Jiaguwen characters carved on ox scapulas and tortoise plastrons around 14th-11th century BC.
中国汉字可追溯到公元前4000年。现在的汉字规则在中国的甲骨文中就已经有迹象了。公元前14世纪至公元前11世纪，人们在牛的肩胛骨上和龟壳上刻甲骨文。
Kaishu style is attributed to Wang Xizhi(303-361)and his followers and is even more regularized. Its spread was encouraged by Mingzong of later Tang(926-933)，who ordered the printing of the classics using new wooden blocks in Kaishu.
王羲之（303—361年）和他的后人对楷书做出了很大贡献，使楷书更加平整规范。后唐明宗（926—933年）提倡使用楷书，并下令用楷书木质雕版来印刷典籍。
Materials and Tools
书法用具
The ink brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are essential implementsof Chinese calligraphy. They are known together as the Four Treasures of the Study.
毛笔、墨水、纸张和砚台是中国书法的四大要素。他们被称为“文房四宝”。
用英语介绍书法
◆Chinese calligraphy is an unique art to Asian cultures.
中国书法是亚洲文化中独特的一门艺术。
◆Calligraphy manifests the basic charatteristics of all chinese arts.
书法彰显了中国艺术的基本特征。
◆Ink brush calligraphy is loved and practiced by Chinese.
毛笔书法广受中国人的热爱。
◆A:Who’s your favourite calligrapher?
B:I’m a fan of Wang Xizhi,he is usually called, the supreme calligrapher of China.
A：你最喜欢的书法家是谁？
B：我是王羲之的粉丝，他通常被称为中国“书圣”。
◆A: These papers look special.
B: They’re Xuanzhi, traditionally used in Chinese calligraphy.
A：这些纸张看起来挺特别的。
B：这些是宣纸，传统上属于中国书法专用。
◆A: what styles do you like?
B: I want to learn Xiaozhuan. They look more impressive to me.
A:你要学习哪种风格的书法，楷书还是行草？
B:我想要学小篆，它们让我印象深刻。
资料来源：《用英语介绍中国高频100话题》
