Chinese Calligraphy: Regular Script (楷书Kǎishū)
– The Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription《九成宫醴泉铭》 (Virtual)
Spring 2026 Registration is Now Open!
Classes Starts the Week of April 13, 2026.
Register by March 10, 2026 to receive $30 off tuition!
Kǎishū (楷书), or regular script, developed during the Han dynasty (202 BC–220 AD) and remains the most widely used calligraphic style today. It is characterized by clear, legible characters, balanced proportions, and well-defined, discrete strokes. Owing to these qualities, Kǎishū is commonly taught as a foundational script for learning Chinese characters and the principles of Chinese calligraphy.
This Spring 2026 course focuses on the study of The Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription, 《九成宫醴泉铭》 a renowned Tang dynasty stele inscription and one of the most significant masterpieces in the history of Chinese calligraphy, particularly in regular script (Kaishu 楷书).
Written in 632 CE by the eminent Tang calligrapher Ouyang Xun (欧阳询), the inscription was carved in stone at Jiucheng Palace (九成宫), a summer palace of Emperor Taizong of Tang. The text commemorates the discovery of a sweet spring (liquan, 醴泉) at the palace and offers praise of imperial virtue.
From a calligraphic perspective, Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription is celebrated for its rigorous structure, precise brushwork, and dignified balance. Its characters are upright, compact, and highly disciplined, exemplifying the formal beauty of regular script. The work serves as a foundational model for developing stroke accuracy, structural awareness, and brush control. Owing to its clarity and exemplary style, Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription has been studied for centuries and continues to be a core reference for both beginning and advanced students of regular-script calligraphy.
This 10-week calligraphy course introduces the essential techniques, brush control, and structural principles of regular script through guided practice based on the Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription. Students will progress from refining fundamental strokes and structural components to writing complete characters and short passages drawn from the stele.
Weekly Homework submission is required, as it allows the instructor to track your progress and provide personalized feedback in a timely manner.
This course is designed for learners at all levels, from beginners to those with experience in clerical script.
Course Outline:
- Week 1: Introduction to Writing: Basic Techniques and Strokes
- Week 2: Basic Training & Simple Characters (1)
- Week 3: Strokes & Simple Characters (2)
- Week 4: Structure & Compound Characters (1)
- Week 5: Structure & Compound Characters (2)
- Week 6: Structure & Compound Characters (3)
- Week 7: Structure & Compound Characters (4)
- Week 8: Structure & Compound Characters (5)
- Week 9: Structure & Compound Characters (5)
- Week 10: Final Review and Presentation, Calligraphic Composition
Tools Needed:
- A calligraphy brush pen (for Kǎishū)
- Liquid ink
- Ink dish
- Practice paper
- Felt
**Detailed requirements and a recommended list will be provided. Students can choose to buy tools from Amazon or locally.
Steps to Take the Course:
- Prepare a device with a camera that can run Zoom.
- Have your writing tools readily available.
- Click on the Zoom link you received to join the class.
- Attend the 1.5-hour class session.
- Practice after class and submit your assignments to the shared Facebook album.
References:
Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription, 《九成宫醴泉铭》
Fees
10 sessions (15 hours of virtual class instruction + outside-of-class instructor comments)
$330 members / $370 non-members
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Maximum Number of Students: 10
Instructor
Eva Su 苏艺
Eva Su 苏艺 is a professional Chinese calligrapher, member of China Calligraphers Association and North America Chinese Calligraphy Association. Practicing calligraphy for over two decades, she began her training in childhood and has earned many awards. Her artworks have been showcased in various exhibitions. After earning a master’s degree in arts administration, she held a solo exhibition at Pace University Gallery in 2015 and founded her art studio “BIMO Theory” in 2020.
Now based in New York, Eva is dedicated to teaching calligraphy and creating her own artwork. She is a descendant of Su Shi 苏轼 (1037-1101), renowned poet, scholar, and calligrapher in Song dynasty. While proficient in multiple calligraphy styles, Yi particularly favors “small standard script” and “large cursive script,” through which she takes most of passion to express her unique artistic vision.
To learn more about Eva Su, please visit her website: https://www.bimotheory.com/
Testimonials
I first learned with 苏 老 师 during China Institute’s Lunch and Learn program. I was so glad when she offered her calligraphy course this fall. She is an excellent teacher, very meticulous and methodical in making calligraphy accessible and enjoyable. What I appreciate most is how her exercises (homework) not only help students understand proper stroke order and “shapes” but also create more confidence in writing altogether. Her calm manner during class also reinforces the meditative quality of calligraphy.
