The Chinese calligraphy script also known as kaishu, with clearly formed standardized characters, is regular script.
Regular script developed from earlier clerical and transitional forms and became established during the late Han and Three Kingdoms periods. Its characters have carefully controlled strokes, balanced proportions, and distinct structure, making it the principal model for learning Chinese calligraphy and reading handwritten standard forms.
The script reached influential maturity during the Tang dynasty. Calligraphers such as Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan became celebrated for highly individual regular-script styles, while earlier masters including Zhong You helped shape its development. Their works remain central references for calligraphy study.
Regular script is not the same as printed type, although many modern Chinese typefaces reflect its structure. It also differs from running and cursive scripts, which abbreviate or connect strokes for speed. Kaishu is valued precisely because its forms remain legible and disciplined.