xíngshū: 行书 - Running Script, Semi-Cursive Script

• Keywords: xingshu, 行书, Chinese running script, semi-cursive script, Chinese calligraphy, shufa, 书法, Wang Xizhi, Lantingji Xu, 楷书, 草书, Chinese handwriting styles
• Summary: 行书 (xíngshū), or Running Script, is one of the most important and widely practiced styles of Chinese calligraphy. It acts as a bridge between the formal, blocky Regular Script (楷书) and the highly abstract Cursive Script (草书). Known for its fluid, connected strokes and elegant movement, xíngshū is both an accessible art form for beginners and a sophisticated style mastered by legendary calligraphers like Wang Xizhi. Understanding xingshu provides deep insight into Chinese aesthetics, personal expression, and the cultural value placed on the art of writing.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xíngshū
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A semi-cursive style of Chinese calligraphy characterized by its fluid, connected strokes and high legibility.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 行书 as the beautiful, everyday handwriting of an educated person in traditional China. It's faster to write than the perfectly neat Regular Script (like print) because some strokes are linked together, but it's much clearer and easier to read than the wild, artistic Cursive Script. It strikes a perfect balance between practicality, speed, and artistic beauty.

• 行 (xíng): The primary meaning of this character is “to walk,” “to move,” “to go,” or “to travel.” It evokes a sense of motion and flow.
• 书 (shū): This character means “writing,” “book,” or “script.”
• Combined Meaning: Together, 行书 (xíngshū) literally translates to “running script” or “moving writing.” This name perfectly captures the visual essence of the style—characters that seem to flow and run across the page, full of life and energy.

行书 holds a cherished place in Chinese culture as the most expressive and personal of the legible calligraphy scripts. While Regular Script (楷书, kǎishū) is valued for its clarity and architectural stability, 行书 is prized for revealing the calligrapher's personality, mood, and skill in a dynamic way. The pinnacle of 行书, and perhaps all of Chinese calligraphy, is the “兰亭集序 (Lántíngjí Xù),” or Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion, by the 4th-century master 王羲之 (Wáng Xīzhī). This work, dashed off during a poetry gathering, is celebrated for its spontaneous grace and technical perfection. Its legendary status underscores the cultural ideal that the best art often arises from effortless, natural expression (a Daoist value) built upon a foundation of immense discipline. Comparison to Western “Cursive”: A helpful analogy for a Western learner is the difference between print and cursive handwriting.

• 楷书 (kǎishū) is like meticulous, separated print letters.
• 行书 (xíngshū) is like flowing, connected cursive letters.

However, the comparison ends there. English cursive is almost purely functional—a way to write faster. In contrast, 行书 is a high art form with a rich history and complex aesthetic standards. A piece of 行书 is judged on its balance, rhythm, the quality of its brushstrokes, and the spiritual energy it conveys. Being able to write good 行书 was historically a hallmark of a refined scholar-official, signifying not just literacy but also moral and artistic cultivation.

While digital communication has replaced handwriting for most daily tasks, 行书 remains highly relevant and visible.

• Calligraphy and Art: It is a core style studied by all students of Chinese calligraphy (书法, shūfǎ). Artworks in 行书 are common decorations in homes, offices, and public spaces, often featuring famous poems or auspicious sayings.
• Design and Branding: The elegant and dynamic nature of 行书 makes it a popular choice for logos, movie titles, book covers, and packaging that aim to convey a sense of tradition, artistry, or sophistication.
• Signatures: Many people's personal signatures are a highly stylized, individual version of 行书 or the more cursive 草书 (cǎoshū).
• Personal Handwriting: For those who still write by hand, their fast, everyday script is often a simplified, personal form of 行书. The principles of connecting strokes for speed are naturally adopted, making it the foundation for most fluid Chinese handwriting.

• Example 1:
  • 我爷爷正在教我写行书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye zhèngzài jiāo wǒ xiě xíngshū.
  • English: My grandfather is teaching me to write in Running Script.
  • Analysis: This shows a common context of learning calligraphy as a traditional art form, often passed down through generations.
• Example 2:
  • 行书比楷书快，比草书更容易辨认。
  • Pinyin: Xíngshū bǐ kǎishū kuài, bǐ cǎoshū gèng róngyì biànrèn.
  • English: Running Script is faster than Regular Script and easier to recognize than Cursive Script.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly defines the position of 行书 relative to the other two major scripts, highlighting its key characteristics.
• Example 3:
  • 他的字写得真漂亮，就像行书一样。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zì xiě de zhēn piàoliang, jiù xiàng xíngshū yíyàng.
  • English: His handwriting is so beautiful, just like Running Script.
  • Analysis: Here, “行书” is used as a benchmark for beautiful, flowing handwriting, even if the person isn't a formal calligrapher.
• Example 4:
  • 《兰亭集序》被誉为“天下第一行书”。
  • Pinyin: “Lántíngjí Xù” bèi yùwéi “tiānxià dì yī xíngshū”.
  • English: The “Preface to the Orchid Pavilion” is acclaimed as the “Number One Running Script under Heaven.”
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the most famous work associated with the script, providing crucial cultural context. The phrase “天下第一” (tiānxià dì yī) means “number one in the world” and shows the piece's revered status.
• Example 5:
  • 想写好行书，你需要先练好楷书的基础。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎng xiě hǎo xíngshū, nǐ xūyào xiān liàn hǎo kǎishū de jīchǔ.
  • English: If you want to write Running Script well, you first need to practice the fundamentals of Regular Script.
  • Analysis: This highlights a key pedagogical principle in Chinese calligraphy: mastery of the formal script is the foundation for the semi-cursive style.
• Example 6:
  • 这幅画的题字是用优美的行书写成的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fú huà de tízì shì yòng yōuměi de xíngshū xiě chéng de.
  • English: The inscription on this painting was written in elegant Running Script.
  • Analysis: This points to a common artistic practice where calligraphy (often 行书) and painting are combined in a single work of art.
• Example 7:
  • 在所有的书法字体中，我最偏爱行书的洒脱。
  • Pinyin: Zài suǒyǒu de shūfǎ zìtǐ zhōng, wǒ zuì piān'ài xíngshū de sǎtuō.
  • English: Among all calligraphy styles, I most prefer the free and easy spirit of Running Script.
  • Analysis: This uses the word 洒脱 (sǎtuō), which means “free and easy” or “unrestrained,” to describe the aesthetic feeling of 行书.
• Example 8:
  • 很多中国人的签名都带有行书的特点。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō Zhōngguó rén de qiānmíng dōu dàiyǒu xíngshū de tèdiǎn.
  • English: Many Chinese people's signatures have the characteristics of Running Script.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a modern, practical application of the script's principles.
• Example 9:
  • 行书的魅力在于它的动态美和节奏感。
  • Pinyin: Xíngshū de mèilì zàiyú tā de dòngtài měi hé jiézòugǎn.
  • English: The charm of Running Script lies in its dynamic beauty and sense of rhythm.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses more advanced aesthetic terms—动态美 (dòngtài měi, dynamic beauty) and 节奏感 (jiézòugǎn, sense of rhythm)—to describe the art form.
• Example 10:
  • 他用毛笔蘸了墨，在宣纸上写下了两个大大的行书字。
  • Pinyin: Tā yòng máobǐ zhànle mò, zài xuānzhǐ shàng xiě xiàle liǎng gè dàdà de xíngshū zì.
  • English: He dipped the brush in ink and wrote two large Running Script characters on the Xuan paper.
  • Analysis: This sentence paints a vivid picture of the act of calligraphy, mentioning the brush (毛笔, máobǐ) and special paper (宣纸, xuānzhǐ).

• Mistake 1: Confusing 行书 (xíngshū) with 草书 (cǎoshū).
  • This is the most common pitfall. While both are “cursive,” they are distinct styles.
  • 行书 (Running Script): Semi-cursive. Strokes are linked, but the basic structure of each character is preserved. It's highly legible.
  • 草书 (Grass Script): Fully cursive. Characters are radically simplified and abbreviated, often blending into a single, continuous stroke. It is very difficult for the untrained eye to read.
  • Analogy: 楷书 is print. 行书 is neat, readable cursive. 草书 is like a doctor's signature—fast, stylized, and almost illegible without specific training.
• Mistake 2: Thinking 行书 is just “messy” or “fast” 楷书.
  • While faster to write, 行书 is not sloppy. It is a highly disciplined art form with its own set of rules for how to connect, simplify, and arrange strokes (called 笔法, bǐfǎ, and 结体, jiétǐ). A beautifully executed piece of 行书 appears effortless, but this effortlessness is the result of years of rigorous practice. It's intentional artistic flow, not a lack of care.

• 书法 (shūfǎ) - The overarching art of Chinese calligraphy, of which 行书 is a major style.
• 楷书 (kǎishū) - Regular Script. The formal, print-like style that serves as the foundation for learning 行书.
• 草书 (cǎoshū) - Cursive Script (Grass Script). The faster, more abstract, and less legible script that represents a further step from 行书.
• 王羲之 (Wáng Xīzhī) - The “Sage of Calligraphy” (书圣, shūshèng), a 4th-century master whose work is considered the gold standard for 行书.
• 兰亭集序 (Lántíngjí Xù) - “Preface to the Orchid Pavilion,” Wang Xizhi's masterpiece and the most famous example of 行书 in history.
• 文房四宝 (wénfáng sìbǎo) - The Four Treasures of the Study: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. The essential tools for practicing all forms of Chinese calligraphy.
• 笔画 (bǐhuà) - A stroke. Understanding the basic strokes of Chinese characters is essential before learning how they are linked together in 行书.
• 隶书 (lìshū) - Clerical Script. An ancient, foundational script that predates modern styles and influenced the development of both 楷书 and 行书.
• 篆书 (zhuànshū) - Seal Script. An even older, more pictorial style of writing, often seen on official seals.