ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Clerical script

Clerical script is a kind of handwriting that was used a long time ago to write important things in China. It was called clerical script because people who worked in offices and wrote important documents used this kind of handwriting. Clerical script looks very different from the handwriting that we use today because it is more round and has a lot of thick lines and dots.

When people wrote in clerical script, they used a special brush and ink to make the thick and thin lines that make up the letters. The letters were also very square and neat, which made it easy to read and understand what was written.

Clerical script was very important in ancient China because it was used for many important things, such as laws, official documents, and important letters. Today, you can still see clerical script in museums and books, and it is still taught to some people who are interested in learning more about ancient Chinese handwriting.