Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Updated: 03/14/2013

Please read the following Q&A to find your needs. If you have any questions, you may try either of the following search engines. Simply type your keywords, phrase, or a question. Thanks!

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Q1: How do I start learning Chinese calligraphy if I don't know Chinese?

It is recommended that we know some basic Chinese when we start learning Chinese calligraphy. We may start learning both at the same time. Without knowing some Chinese characters, when we are doing Chinese calligraphy we are mimicking the shape and structure of a picture rather a character. (The Chinese written language consists of many characters. Each character is made up of strokes, section headings, and radicals. It's a misnomer to regard Chinese characters as symbols, alphabets, or letters.) It can be interesting to write something with a brush. Even Chinese people like this in their youth.

Beginners may start reading from "The Basics" which consist of a series of very concise WebPages on Chinese language and calligraphy basics. 

Please also note that Chinese calligraphy can be only practiced with Traditional Chinese Characters. Calligraphers in China practice and teach calligraphy with Traditional Chinese Characters, not their own Simplified Chinese Characters.

To locate a Chinese language school in your area, please visit www.ncacls.org/ncacls_frm_assoc.htm. They teach Chinese to non-Chinese and Asian-Americans. You may also visit online self-study or local bookstores. 

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Q2: Where can I buy good Chinese calligraphy tools? How much do they cost?

Before we purchase any tools and supplies, it's recommended that we read Lesson 1 & 2 in the Video Tutorial to get to know the basics. More details are covered about choosing brushes in P1: Selecting, Preparing, and Maintaining A Brush.   

We may try local Chinese bookstores or online stores. It's best to buy Chinese calligraphy supplies and tools from Chinese bookstores where the owners also practice this art and they may recommend from technical and artistic views instead of business views. It's not advisable to buy Chinese calligraphy brushes and supplies from most American bookstores and art stores because most of the packages or starter's kits sold are not technically conforming. They can be for fun and not suitable for practice. The most important point is that we understand the features of Chinese calligraphy tools (especially the Chinese brushes) and do not make assumptions based on painting or Western writing. Watercolor brushes and Indian ink sold in many art stores won't be suitable for Chinese calligraphy.  In addition, it’s always good to see and touch the products before we make a purchase. Once we have a good set of tools, chances that we get disappointed with our practice will be greatly reduced.  

The following places are excellent stores to shop for quality calligraphy tools in the U.S. and online. The prices are not necessarily the determinants of quality.

• "Forbidden City" in Dallas, Texas, USA (http://www.oriental-crafts.com/ and enter it's e-Bay store)
  This is one of the world's largest wholesalers of Chinese calligraphy brushes and supplies - more quality Four Treasures imported to U.S. and exported worldwide each month. The family has three stores in Beijing that have connections with all major suppliers and manufacturers in China. Large store inventory with only small percentage listed online. (Top quality items are usually not listed. Please email or call Robert Bo.) Wholesale prices are close to or even lower than the prices in China. 

• Acorn Planet (http://www.acornplanet.com/) A fine selection of quality tools and supplies.

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Q3: How long does it take to be good at Chinese calligraphy?

If people tell you it probably will take 5 years, 10 years, or even lifetime, you probably will not be interested. But if a Chinese tell you 2 or 3 years, he is not telling the truth. It depends on how we start, how much do we "observe" and  understand and are able to apply the principles and theories, our personality, insight, patience, quality of tools, and so on. 

There are no such things as "The Simple Art of Chinese Calligraphy", "Chinese Calligraphy Made Easy", "The Complete Guide to Chinese Calligraphy." (People who make those statements or titles are often laymen of Chinese arts and may provide incorrect or misleading instructions and knowledge and substandard work.) Otherwise, Chinese calligraphy won't be regarded as a sublime art form in China for nearly 5,000 years. Like Chinese cooking and martial arts, the combinations and possibilities of beauty of Chinese calligraphy are unlimited. The journey of learning is beautiful and joyful. However, if one does not understand the underlying principles of Chinese calligraphy, the task is laborious and the result is always unsatisfying. 

If we can improve most of the determinant factors and practice persistently instead of looking for immediate results, we will be astonished at our progress! The truth is that we are not "laboring" from long practices - we are becoming a happier and happier person through the enjoyment of practice and benefits like longevity and peaceful mind. The best shortcut is focusing on the processes without expecting a shortcut. It really does not matter how early or late we start learning Chinese calligraphy if we know how to apply the right methods and principles. Our belief will be the most important determinant of making progresses.

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Q4: What are the product and pricing policies of this website?

All sales of "Customized Chinese Calligraphy Artwork" and related mounting services (including scrolls) are non-refundable. In case there is a defect or damage due to shipping, I will be happy to provide you a new version of work on the condition that you return the item within 7 business days after you receive your order. 

The General Pricing Charts for custom Chinese calligraphy are based on the "total efforts" spent on each work. Efforts include the time, skill levels required for different calligraphy styles and sizes, ink preparation, and other technical issues. In most businesses, when a buyer purchases a large quantity, the overall prices may be lower due to quantity discount. However, when the number of Chinese characters increases in a work on the same piece of paper, the level of mental concentration and techniques become even more difficult. When any unsatisfied stroke or even a dot is done, there is no remedy except starting all over again! No retouching (amending) or any forms of editing is permitted as the Chinese consider calligraphy skill should come directly from one's true level and mind.

For international orders, I am not responsible for any loss or damage during delivery unless you pay for insurance. Additional S&H may apply for scrolls and international orders outside the United States. 

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Q5: Why do I need to "preview" my custom Chinese calligraphy? Is it required? No.

I sincerely respect your ownership of an artwork. Upon the completion of the work, you will receive an e-mail to preview your order before shipping. This "Preview" feature helps you to remember the right orientation of the work. The sequences of Chinese calligraphy writings are first from top to bottom, and then from RIGHT to LEFT as explained in following examples. This is very different from Western writing and Chinese textbooks containing math formulas and Arabic numbers. A serious Chinese calligrapher will neither write Chinese calligraphy from left to right to cater nor add English or other alphabetic languages to a Chinese calligraphy work. If one violates the traditional norms, the artistic spirit of Chinese calligraphy will be twisted and the work will be ridiculed. 

The "Preview" feature also allows you to communicate with the calligrapher if you have any other concerns before your order is shipped. This might be the time for the customers to decide to upgrade their custom Chinese calligraphy to dry mounting, silk mounting, or a scroll.

Small icons of selected custom Chinese calligraphy may be posted in the “Studio” for public viewing.

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Q6: Are your works original? Do I get a certificate?

All works in the Gallery and Studio & Store are handwritten by Joshua Hough only. The various styles of Chinese calligraphy are inspired by or derived from many ancient masterpieces and my insight and creation. There are not any other parties involved.  

Throughout the Chinese history, all ancient master calligraphers were good and famous only for their personal styles after practicing many, many predecessor's models for many years. Strictly speaking from many artistic points of view, no one from ancient China to this day has been really good for more than five major styles or sub-styles. 

In order to provide or mimic different styles, I have to practice emulation of at least three sources in order to get to the mindset and inspiration to blend the styles for each custom order regardless the number of Chinese characters requested by the customers. It usually takes me from half an hour to several days (consciously and subconsciously) to conceptualize and mentally design the images of the Chinese characters, though it may take only 10 minutes just to write three to five Chinese characters. If one tries to copy others' styles with exactly the same look, that's usually considered a directly copied style and will not usually be highly regarded as one's personal style by other artists. (But technically speaking, to copy or emulate another's work exactly the same will be almost impossible and even more difficult!)

Every work sold from this website is 100% original and uniquely handwritten (not painted). There are absolutely no printed, traced, or duplicated works sold from this website. A certificate with my signature is available upon request without extra charge.  

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Q7: What are your payment methods? Why do you use "Quote Forms"?

This website accepts payment by checks, money orders, debit cards, bank transfers, major types of credit cards and payment by PayPal. PayPal is a secure merchant account system that automatically checks your credit card number and deposits the money into Art-Virtue.com's PayPal account without anyone ever seeing your credit card number and information. In addition, PayPal will generate a receipt for your order as a third party. (You do not need to set up a PayPal account to make a payment with PayPal. PayPal is very easy, friendly, prompt, and secure.)

If you wish to pay by mailing a check or money order, I will email you my address.

Chinese calligraphy is also called “heart painting" since it deeply reflects the mindset of the calligrapher. It’s against my belief to sell work of heart in a fully commercialized way or to cater. In order to maintain a high level of artistic quality for each work created, I do not "batch process" Chinese calligraphy artworks. Every work, including both "Custom Orders" and "Available for Sale" items, is uniquely done. The various "Quote Forms" are uniquely designed to serve the collectors with "fair pricing" and maintain a high level of artistic quality for Chinese calligraphy in its original and purest form. Unlike other fully commercialized websites, I do not wish the work of Chinese calligraphy to be sold for catering. I deeply respect every customer, every work, and the art and I appreciate your patience and appreciation.

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Q8: How long does it take to receive my order? How do you ship my order?

Because of my job as a public accountant, I need to balance business meetings and work schedules with all services and events offered from this website. To maintain a high artistic quality for your order, your understanding and patience are deeply appreciated. Please use the following charts and add the numbers of days (completion of work plus shipping) to figure out the approximate date that you will receive your order after payment is made. The estimated days for custom calligraphy may also depend on my public accounting schedules, online orders and workload, calligraphy classes, and public events. (Most of the custom orders are done during the weekend time. This website is maintained all year around, so you are welcome to e-mail Joshua during non-business days.) Since Chinese calligraphy is a very deliberate and philosophical art, most of the best masterpieces written by ancient masters were created after they had reflected, pondered, meditated, and mentally rehearsed for enough time. Those best masterpieces thus become the models for learning Chinese calligraphy for centuries... Would you like your order to be created with enough respect and deliberate artistic design and be appreciated for long or lifetime? Or you just want it right away or simply to meet your due day? It usually takes me from half an hour to several days (consciously and subconsciously) to conceptualize and mentally design the images of the Chinese characters, though it may take only 10 minutes just to write three to five Chinese characters. If a customer wishes to receive a work that s/he will be more likely to truly appreciate for long rather be curious to see the appearance, it is advisable to allow me to keep things in balance and better serve you and all other customers.

The following charts list the estimated number of days for customers to receive their orders of "custom Chinese calligraphy" and (or) mounted items and scrolls after the payments are received and the applicable S&H charges. Those charts don't apply to digital copies, commissioned work, multiple copies with negotiated prices and delivery date, and international orders. (In case there will be a delay due to overload or other reasons, the customer will be notified in an e-mail before payment decision.) All orders mailed after Friday 5:00 PM are deemed as mailed on Monday morning according to U.S. postal systems. A tracking number will be e-mailed to you. Please allow at least 24 hours to track your package online after the shipping time. The postal system won't enter the tracking number right away when your package is still in the postal offices. All orders including "Custom Chinese Calligraphy" and "Available for Sale Items" are shipped with either Signature Confirmation or Delivery Confirmation regardless the transaction amounts. Your signature is required upon receiving your order. "Days" herein and in all e-mail communications refer to United States "business days."

All orders will be shipped in mailing tubes. An additional shipping box may be added for orders of a scroll.

If you need rush service (1 to 2 business days after payment is received), the price of the calligraphy will be 50% more of the original quote with additional shipping charges.

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Q9: Are mounting or scrolls necessary for my order? How much is the cost?

Most formal Chinese calligraphy and painting artworks are done on Shuan Paper. Shuan Paper is mistakenly called "rice paper" in the West. When Europeans wanted to get the trade secrets of the Chinese writing paper made in Shuan Zhou, they were misinformed that it was made of rice. Shuan Paper is made of different plant fibers, excluding rice. 

Sometimes Shuan Paper arrives folded or a little bit wrinkled from the manufacturers or bookstores. (The various kinds of paper are either folded or wrinkled as shown in the "Paper Selection" part of the Quote Form. They need to be rolled several times to be more even and smooth before writing.) After a Chinese calligrapher or painter has finished the work, Shuan Paper also gets wrinkled naturally. To help please the eyes and preserve the artwork for many centuries, Chinese invented many processes to mount Chinese calligraphy and painting artworks. The mounting techniques give the artwork a new and vivid look and help to restore the artists’ intent and spirit by removing the wrinkles. 

Please note that only Chinese mounters can handle works written or painted on Shuan Paper. They have very strict standards, norms, and trade secrets in the mounting business. Like seal making or pressing a seal onto a Chinese painting or calligraphy work, there are lots of rules and taboos for mounting Chinese calligraphy and painting artworks. Chinese mounting has a history of more than 2,000 years. It can be so advanced that even if you rub Shuan Paper into a ball, a mounter can restore it to perfectly smooth and without any evidence. They can also be so detailed that most Chinese painters and calligraphers will not know how to mount or make a scroll.  An unsatisfactory mounting will decrease the value of our collection of Chinese painting and calligraphy artworks. 

If you are planning to purchase a collection with mounting or a scroll from this website, please start from http://www.art-virtue.com/order/ReadMeFirst.htm. You will be guided step-by-step to make your choices.

If you see a “framed or mounted” Chinese calligraphy or painting work and it’s under US$30.00, the quality of product is quite doubtful in terms of art and mounting. If it is a “duplicated” or “printed” work, the price just covers the mounting costs. If it is an original work, then the artistic quality is really in doubt!   

You may, at your discretion, choose your frame and just put the work inside without mounting Shuan Paper first. The wrinkles will be there.

If you insist on going to Western galleries that do not know the traditional Chinese mounting, they usually will decline your request. If they accept your business, please make sure the orientation of the work is correct and they do not damage the soft fibers of Shuan Paper.

Some websites even sell “framed” Chinese calligraphy works upside down, left side right, or totally flip it! There were funny postings at http://www.chinapage.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=850 about flipping the proper orientation of Chinese calligraphy work. If you do not understand Chinese characters, please ask Chinese people for the proper orientation of the calligraphy first. Please do not let people make fun of it, especially when it's permanently set in a frame or on a scroll. (Some Westerns who have done beautiful Chinese painting with brushes later find out that they pressed their name chops or other seals in the wrong direction did show great regret! This can be prevented in advance by asking a Chinese who can read the contents.)

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Q10: Do you have instructional DVDs for sale? 

More video clips will eventually be uploaded to YouTube or Google Video to demonstrate Chinese calligraphy. 

Instructional DVDs for Chinese calligraphy in different levels and styles are available per your learning purposes and progress. The videos will be available in either DVD+R or DVD-R formats. Each DVD will be 2 hours long and the narration will be either English or Chinese per your request. The videos will cover related brush principles and techniques, postures, principles of writing your selected Chinese calligraphy style(s), procedures to practice with Model Books and a lot more. All the contents in the video are explained and demonstrated with levels of details so that you may use as a learning and practice guide repeatedly. This is similar to a video of private lessons per your level and progress. No tapes will be available. If you need instructional videos, please send an email. Before the release of instructional DVDs, each custom DVD will be $30 per 30 minutes due to production time.

As of March 14, 2013, Online Step-By-Step Structured Video Courses in Kai Shu are under construction and will be available in the future, depending on my workload.

Instructional DVDs will also be available from www.art-virtue.com/dvd/ and Amazon with release dates to be announced in the future. 

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Q11: Can you explain copyright about Chinese calligraphy?

This issue involves more technical aspects of Chinese calligraphy. It will take many, many articles to explain those technical details from artistic, historical, and political views throughout China. Throughout the history of Chinese calligraphy, there is not any lawsuit about the copyrights of Chinese calligraphy masterpieces done by ancient masters. There was one lawsuit about the "authenticity" of work sold in 1999. The plaintiff was a candidate when he was running for presidency of Taiwan. His literature achievements and political views were respected. Mr. Lee sued the seller for selling him a fake Chinese calligraphy work of Dr. Sun Yet-Sen, the founder and the first president of the Republic of China.

Throughout the entire Chinese history, a famous artist's or politician's work will always be emulated, imitated, copied, quoted, and faked - and perhaps sold in auctions or markets later. Neither the judges or Mr. Lee are Chinese calligraphers or experts. How they judged a work to be fake remained to be a technical issue of art, not legal issue. Even if they hired experts of Chinese calligraphy to render opinions, different experts or calligraphers will definitely have different conclusions. Even the National Palace of Museum in Taipei or in China collects and displays many works attributed to certain calligrapher and painter. Not all scholars, researchers, or archaeologists agree that a certain work is original or fake.

For Westerns, the copyright issues of Chinese calligraphy or any arts seem to be more sensitive and maybe confusing. Only after we have studied and understood Chinese calligraphy from different aspects of theories, history, appreciation, and even practices can we better understand the copyright issues of Chinese calligraphy works. For example, if I explain this issue to my father who only appreciates Chinese calligraphy but does not practice it, he will not understand and will be confused in most situations. He will be confused because he will make assumptions from the copyrights of books, painting, or other arts.

First of all, we need to understand each Chinese calligraphy masterpiece can be duplicated onto tablets, stones, woods, monuments or even papers using special techniques like tracing and filling. (In ancient China, when an emperor adored a calligraphy masterpiece, he would ordain the calligrapher, other calligraphers, or artisans to duplicate several copies of the masterpiece and award them to relatives, ministers, and officers.) Those masterpieces are available to the public to get “rubbing” to make another duplicates for collection, display, or Lin Mo (emulation) practice. As long as you don’t own or destroy the original stones, more versions of rubbing will be available for publishing or collection. Different people in different dynasties and times who do a rubbing from the stones will generate different versions due to their different artistic judgments. Thus, most Chinese calligraphers and students like to compare the nuances of different versions. As a result, publishers as well as many collectors will often (or always) claim they have the earliest and best rubbing versions except the exclusive rights of ownership of the original works on tablets, stone, wood, or paper.

As for printed masterpieces on paper, the museums or private collectors have already released to the market and the public either in books, magazines, photo, post cards, textbooks, newspapers, and etc. Most publishers sometimes don’t ask for permission to print. They even cannot find who the true owner is. Besides, many works were anonymous in the ancient times. Then it should belong to the private collectors or museums. However, for the sake of practice or safe copy, many Chinese calligraphers have tried to emulate or even duplicate the works so well that some of the duplicates are almost indistinguishable from the original work. (Some scholars assert that none of the works of Wang Hsi-Chih that we see today is the original. They were mostly duplicated in the Tang Dynasty either on stone or on paper. So if you see a piece of Wang’s work in museums, don’t assume them to be authentic or original.) Just as Beethoven wrote a piece, anybody can play or record it and any music publisher can make their own printed notes on sheets.

Many Chinese calligraphy masterpieces are collected by museums around the world. Both museums in China and Taiwan own the very best of Chinese calligraphy works. During the period of 1949 to 1987, people in China and Taiwan did not have any forms of communications. Any communication by letter, phone or a few words on a note without government's permission was "liaison" and could result in severe penalty. Both countries published many Chinese calligraphy books containing pictures of  works they don't own. Before then, a publisher did not notify or ask permission from the other country's publishers or museums. Since the pictures of Chinese calligraphy works are available in medias at large, it will be impractical to ask permissions again from every museum that possesses the "actual and tangible" work. If any one wants to sue, this will create a "ripple effect" and the legal issues will be ended right away because judges in courts are not calligraphers or experts. Furthermore, there are many artists who produce very similar works in similar or the same styles, genres, and contents during their lifetime. Which one is the original or fake by other imitators? Did the artist transfer title before he died? How about those Chinese artworks displayed in museums outside China that were possessions by wars from circa 1870 to 1940? How about those publishers that no longer exist or are too busy to care about a picture?

The pictures displayed in this website are mostly from my library of Model Books, masterpieces, private collections, private rubbings I bought many years ago, and other reliable Internet sources. Some of the publishers no longer exist or have changed owners or addresses. My American friends have constantly asked me about copyright issues because they make assumptions from copyright issues of books, recordings, or most other medias.

Readers may refer to A6: How to Distinguish Authentic from Fake Chinese Calligraphy for more technical information regarding different versions of each Chinese calligraphy work. You may also refer to the next topic for signature and seals issues about an original calligraphy work.

The following websites provide free download of Copy Books and masterpieces:  

• 中華美術網
  http://www.ieshu.com/source_down_list.php?tid=2 
  
  

• 北京大學圖書館金石拓片特藏
  http://162.105.138.23/tapian/tp.htm
  

In China, there is a resort called "The Beilin Museum of Xi-An" ( 西安碑林 ). The Chinese government gathers and manages many Chinese calligraphy masterpieces on tablets there and carefully protects them from further deterioration due to vandalism or Act of God. A Chinese calligraphy practitioner can politely request to make a rubbing from those tablets. Any visitor can buy a copy of any rubbings of those calligraphy works. The stores there sell souvenirs of Chinese calligraphy rubbings. Some are very original for Lin Mo practice and some are "altered" and "amended" to cater the laymen or tourists. Once I received an album of those rubbings of many, many famous masterpieces. The man who gave me this album does not practice or know Chinese calligraphy. So he assumed that I could never buy those from Taiwan since Taiwan does not physically own those tablets. However, I have already owned a large quantity of the rubbings from Chinese calligraphy masterpieces on tablets which I bought in Taiwan back in the 1980's. (At that time, a valuable version published in Taiwan was extremely expensive. Now we can download them free from the Internet.)

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Q12-a: Can you explain signature, seals, and framing for a calligraphy work?

Most people think a Chinese calligraphy or painting work should be signed and stamped with seals, "at least to prevent future holders to sign it."

The writing of a Chinese calligraphy work is the "main content" of the work itself. The signature and seals personalize the work. The frames or scrolls are for display and preservation purposes. We may think of the main content as the host, the signature and seals as the guests, and the framing or mounting as a hall or a house. A perfect party will consist a noble host, decent guests, and a majestic hall. A good Chinese calligraphy work will be more valuable if it can meet the above three qualities. 

However, the main content is the most important and the signature and seals are the most critical. The art of stamping seals onto Chinese calligraphy and painting works is another realm of knowledge and requires artistic insights and many esthetic rules. Like mounting, it has a set of strict rules and taboos. We may consider having an outdoor party with good programs, host, and visitors without staying in a building. But if we invite vulgar guests to the party, the main event will be totally ruined. It's recommended that a good Chinese calligraphy work be framed or mounted on a scroll. If the framing or mounting is lousy or vulgar, it will totally devalue the entire work no matter how great the calligraphy and seals are. If the mounting and (or) the seals exceed the main content in artistic levels, they will add more value to the calligraphy or painting. However, if either the mounting or the seals are not good enough to match the calligrapher's or painter's level, that work will absolutely be demeaned!

Similarly, if a Chinese painting work contains a poem written in nice calligraphy and is stamped with nice seals, it's the perfect combination of Chinese calligraphy, painting, seals, and literature. (That's one of the reasons why Chinese calligraphy, painting, and seal carving are sister arts.) But if any one of the three added ingredients (calligraphy, seal, or poem) is below the painter's level a lot, it will ruin the whole work no matter how great the painting is!

In early dynasties like Han, the Chinese calligraphers did not care about personalizing their works. In fact, most of the best masterpieces remained anonymous. The original artists realized the cosmic harmony existed in the universe and in the nature and was not created or personally owned by the artists individually. They cared for the level of art more than personal recognition. This philosophy is different from the views of modern businesses and Western way of personalizing an artwork. 

I was once asked by people who do not know Chinese culture, philosophy, or calligraphy about leaving a Chinese painting or calligraphy work without a signature. They doubted that if a Chinese painter or calligrapher did not sign his/her work, later it might be possessed by someone who signed it and sold for higher prices! (What a joke and honor! Once when a famous Chinese painter found out  there were more fake imitations of his works than his own works, he said, "it's plausible to create fake imitations or duplicates of a deceased master, but I am still alive." ) That "someone" must possess at least the same artistic and moral levels of the original artist in order to sign a painting or calligraphy work without totally destroying its value. "Someone" who has reached a high level, of course, need not sign another's works - they can create their own good artworks! So if a Chinese painting or calligraphy work is good and anonymous (even without any seals or signature), the original artist may have realized the ancient philosophy of "Not Possessing" even though it is different from today's business concepts. A good artwork already speaks for itself and the artist.

It was until the Sung Dynasty when many great pieces of painting and calligraphy were faked that the Chinese began to leave signatures and seals on the work.

In my public events, some people will ask me to explain why I do not press a seal on the writing for them. A quality seal paste will take at least two months to dry after the seal is stamped on the paper. It's very likely that an average person will smear the ink right away or before it gets completely dried. 

Some of the custom works sold from this website are stamped with my artist's seals and then processed further to reduce the moisture that may cause ink to smear.

The signatures and seal stamps on Chinese painting and calligraphy works all follow strict norms and traditions. If they are violated, a work will be mocked or demeaned because it is considered ignorant and impolite. It is sad that the majority of modern Chinese calligraphers and painters seem to neglect those norms. The following sources provide excellent articles and examples for signatures and seals derived from many ancient masterpieces.

  http://home.pchome.com.tw/art/snowkaku/000.doc (in Chinese texts, maybe currently N/A)

  http://www.11china.com/    歷代書家詩詞章法舉要（全二冊）(in Chinese texts)

Chinese painters and calligraphers never sign on the back of their artwork or at any randomly picked spot.

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Q12-b: Can you explain signature and seals for your calligraphy work?

For more detailed explanation, see also Q12-a: Can you explain signature, seals, and framing for a calligraphy work?

The signatures and seal stamps on Chinese calligraphy artworks sold on this website are either:

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