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Fundamentals of the Chinese character writing (Part 1)

Saint Petersburg State University

About this Course

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The course gives a concise survey of the Chinese character-writing tradition. You’ll master the fundamentals of the Chinese writing aesthetics; learn about the main phases of the characters’ evolution and about the great calligraphers of the past. You are going to distinguish 6 types of the Chinese written symbols, become skilled in history of Chinese scripts and possibility of their modern usage. You’ll get the explanation of the 214 Chinese character radicals (the first part in Part 1 of the Course, the second — in Part 2) and can practice their writing, using the animated and static samples given in videos and on pages. Elaborate tests are going to help you regularizing the new information and filling the lacunae. 
Welcome to the mysterious world of the Chinese characters! You will definitely love it!

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructors

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Offered by

Saint Petersburg State University

Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет (СПбГУ) — старейший вуз России, основанный в 1724 году. Университет сегодня — научный, образовательный и культурный центр мирового значения, неизменно входящий во все международные рейтинги вузов. В номинации взаимодействие с работодателями QS Graduate Employability 2018 СПбГУ занимает 20 место среди 400 ведущих вузов мира и является лучшим в России.

В настоящее время СПбГУ реализует 418 образовательных программ, включающих самые современные направления подготовки и специальности. Сертификат об успешном окончании представленных онлайн-курсов дает 5 дополнительных баллов при поступлении на программы магистратуры и аспирантуры СПбГУ. St Petersburg University is the oldest university in Russia, founded in 1724. The University today is a world-class research, educational and cultural centre which is always included in all international rankings of world universities. St Petersburg University was ranked 20th in QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2018 among 400 leading universities in the world and is the best in Russia. At present, St Petersburg University offers 418 academic programmes, including the most advanced areas and fields of study. The certificate of successful completion of offered online courses gives five additional points when applying for master’s and doctoral programmes at St Petersburg University.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

INTRODUCTION

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 55 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

8 videos

Greeting1m

Introduction10m

Tools for classes6m

Contemporary standard of character-writing10m

Traditional and simplified characters4m

Stroke order is very important1m

Basic graphic elements and radicals 1, 2, 3 and 713m

Basic graphic elements and radicals 4, 66m

2 readings

Samples to practice40m

Bibliography10m

1 practice exercise

Test20m

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

EARLY STAGES OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHINESE WRITING

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 36 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

History of Character writing8m

Basic Graphic Elements5m

Radicals 24, 51, 32, 33, 48, 962m

History of Character writing9m

Radicals 8, 27, 53, 104, 44, 63, 59, 601m

History of Character-writing and Radicals 41, 64, 82, 92, 144, 118, 158, 169, 1915m

Radicals 41, 64, 82, 92, 144, 118, 158, 169, 1913m

3 readings

Samples to practice30m

Samples30m

1 practice exercise

Test30m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

HISTORY OF CHARACTER-WRITING AND PRINCIPLES OF CALLIGRAPHY

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 27 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

4 videos

Eight principals of the chatacter 永11m

Radicals 13, 30, 31, 72, 73, 109, 102, 112, 25, 772m

Famous calligrapher Ouyang Xun9m

Radicals 9, 37, 11, 12, 88, 89, 122, 106, 1323m

2 readings

Samples40m

1 practice exercise

Test40m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

CHARACTER-WRITING IN TANG DYNASTY

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 29 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

4 videos

Famous calligrapher Chu Suilaing9m

Radicals 17, 45, 46, 121, 140, 80, 211, 47, 383m

Famous calligrapher Yan Zhenqing12m

Radicals 15, 85, 75, 115, 119, 127, 165, 199, 200, 2023m

2 readings

Samples40m

1 practice exercise

Test40m

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Fundamentals of the Chinese character writing (Part 1)

Fundamentals of the Chinese character writing (Part 1)