Offering perspectives on the beauty, power and art of the written word in China, and published to accompany an exhibition at Princeton University, this volume incorporates many masterpieces from the 3rd century to the present, all from the John B. Elliott Collection. Whether brushed on silk, cast on bronze or engraved in stone, Chinese calligraphy evokes the forces of nature, promotes social ideals, and asserts the creativity of individual artists. Essays by Chinese and American scholars examine the complex relationships between calligraphy and religion, poetry and literature.