Free Brushwork Breeds Primitive Simplicity; Natural Charm Emerges Spontaneously—A Study of the Calligraphic Art of Wuwei Bamboo Slips of Yi Li

Abstract

Before the invention of paper, bamboo and wooden slips constituted one of the most convenient and practical writing carriers adopted by ancient people. In the 1950s, the precious "Three Sets of Wuwei Slips" were unearthed successively in Wuwei. These slips preserve early handwritten characters and serve as vital references for the study of ancient calligraphy. Research on the calligraphic features of Chinese characters on bamboo and wooden slips carries great practical significance for the inheritance and innovation of calligraphy in Wuwei, the whole Northwest region, and even the whole country.