Clerical script

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/clerical-script

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the script classification?A style of Chinese writing
2. What is the evolutionary period?Evolved from late Warring States period through Qin dynasty
3. What is Clerical script and why is it called 'clerical'?Clerical script is a special way of writing Chinese characters that started in the Han dynasty. It is called 'clerical' because it was used by government officials and became the standard for many official documents.
4. When did Clerical script start being used?Clerical script began to form during the late Warring States period, was standardized by the Qin dynasty, and became fully popular in the Han dynasty.

Paleography: The study of ancient writing systems and inscriptions.
Libian: The historical process of graphic transformation in Chinese script evolution.
Rectilinear: Characterized by straight lines and angles, as opposed to curves.
Bafen: A highly stylized subtype of Han clerical script, noted for its artistic features.