Dictionary of earliest style of Chinese calligraphy reprinted

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A dictionary of the art of zhuan shu, the earliest style of Chinese calligraphy, has been reprinted and issued by the People's Fine Arts Publishing House.

Zhuan shu was first found in inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.). It was often used in inscriptions on seals beginning in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The dictionary is a collection of zhuan shu characters inscribed on bones and tortoise shells, bronze objects, drum-shaped stone blocks, bamboo slips, eaves tiles and seals.