The Book of Songs is the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry, comprising 305 works dating from the 11th to 6th centuries BC. It is said to have been compiled by Confucius himself. These ancient works have been studied by scholars in China and on a global level for over two millennia. This celebrated literary tradition of classical Chinese poetry could not have been established without bamboo calligraphy. Thousands of years ago, before the invention of paper, Chinese scholars tied slips of bamboo together to form a type of bound book. This allowed written and recorded ideas, which was the earliest form of books in China. The crafting of bamboo slips was a major tool in cultural preservation and dissemination of information before the development of paper. In ancient China, it was the first time that bamboo slips had liberated characters from the top circle, so that the contemplations of Confucius, Lao Tzu and many other famous luminaries could spread so far across the continents, to be shared with all people.
In China, calligraphy is regarded as one of the highest forms of artistic expression. For more than 2,000 years, China's literati, have studied endlessly to become connoisseurs and practitioners of this art form. Calligraphy is created by combining stylized strokes, executed with a brush and ink, to form the characters of Chinese writing. Chinese characters, unlike Western phonograph, evolved from ideographs, a picture or sign representing a thing or concept.
In the formal tradition of Chinese calligraphy, it is not simply what you write, but how it is written. We endeavor to immerse our handbags in this glorious, elegant appreciation of the art of Chinese calligraphy. Even if one cannot read the characters, bamboo calligraphy is an abstract art and can be admired simply for its beauty. Look for the graceful, fluid, yet bold lines. The finest calligraphy embodies balance, geometry and expressiveness. It is with these virtues that we embellish our handbags.