clerical script

noun

An archaic style of Chinese calligraphy, dominant during the Han dynasty. Characters are rather wide (in comparison with modern styles), with long, bold, and deliberate sweeping strokes. Unlike the preceding seal script, it is still easily legible to modern readers, and thus remains in decorative use.

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Meanings

nounclerical script (uncountable)

alternative clerkly script

  1. uncountableAn archaic style of Chinese calligraphy, dominant during the Han dynasty. Characters are rather wide (in comparison with modern styles), with long, bold, and deliberate sweeping strokes. Unlike the preceding seal script, it is still easily legible to modern readers, and thus remains in decorative use.

Origin

Calque from Chinese 隸書／隶书 (lìshū). Tradition holds that clerical script developed out of the needs of clerks.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 隸書 /隶书
  • 隸書 /隶书 (lìshū)style of Chinese calligraphy
Finnish kirjurikirjoitus
  • kirjurikirjoitusstyle of Chinese calligraphy
Vietnamese lệ thư
  • lệ thưstyle of Chinese calligraphy
Cite this entry
APA

clerical script. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clerical%20script

MLA

“clerical script.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clerical%20script. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clerical script,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clerical%20script.

Source: clerical script on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.