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| Scripts Development / Cursive Clerical Scripts (章草 "Zhang Cao") (200 B.C. - 200 A.D.) |
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(click image for closer view) or (click here to view a slideshow on the entire scripts development - requires monitor size 1024 x 768 pixels) |
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| "Zhangcao" by Shi You Han (急 就 章 - 史 游) |
| Cursive Clerical Script was yet another swift writing format of the Ancient Clerical Script. It offers much freedom in abbreviating and sketching the characters, abandoning the rigid stroke-by-stroke form altogether.
This script was developed in Early Han by an officer called Shi You (史 游), and had since become very popular in both the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties. "Zhang" in Chinese means essay and "cao" can be interpreted as quick/rough. Recognizing its advantage in saving time and effort in work, the government called it "Zhang Cao" and conveniently adopted this quick script form to document official records. |