Writing shows nation's united character

Calligraphy, which displays the beauty of writing, has become an exceptional art form in Chinese culture. Literati, high officials, and even emperors' handwritten pieces turned a section of the gallery into a traditional Chinese study with refined cultivation. The exhibits are credited to a long list of top-tier Chinese calligraphers, including Zhao Mengfu, Mi Fu and Huang Tingjian.

As the whereabouts of the original piece of the 4th-century masterpiece Lanting Xu, or Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, remains unknown, Zhao's facsimile of what is one of the most important calligraphic works in Chinese history helps people to approach that lost cultural milestone.

Various scripts — regular (kaishu), cursive (caoshu), and semicursive (xingshu), not only reflect the writers' moods, but also show the general ethos and spirit of different times.