Calligraphy

What Is Calligraphy?

Calligraphy comes from an Ancient Greek word that means "beautiful writing." It is a kind of handwriting that is used as a visual art. People make letters and characters with a pen, an ink brush, or other writing tools.

Calligraphy can be found in many writing systems around the world. In East Asia and the Islamic world, it is a very important part of art. Sometimes the shape of a letter depends on what the word or sentence means.

Calligraphy Around the World

In China, Japan, and Korea, calligraphy is a respected part of culture. People call it Chinese calligraphy, Japanese calligraphy, and Korean calligraphy. In Japan, it is called shodō, which means "the way of writing."

In the Islamic world, calligraphy grew up together with the religion of Islam. You can often see it on the walls of mosques. Many people think of it as one of the most special kinds of art.

Calligraphy Today

Western calligraphy is often used for special events, such as wedding invitations. You can also see it in graphic design and on signs and decorations.

A man named Edward Johnston is often called the father of modern calligraphy. He helped design a letter style for the London Underground. That style is still used today, with only small changes.

Tools for Calligraphy

In the Western world, the main tools are pens and brushes. The tips of calligraphy pens may be flat, round, or pointed. Fountain pens are another tool people use for writing.