In China's calligraphy, cursive script, running script, regular script and official script are considered as four main font forms, among which regular script is the origin of the other three. Regular script has been widely used in the Han Dynasty and has become the standard font for official documents and classic documents. Cursive script, running script and official script all evolved on the basis of regular script.

Cursive script is gradually evolved on the basis of regular script, which is characterized by scribbled strokes, flowing clouds and strong artistic beauty. Running script is further developed on the basis of cursive script, which is more neat than cursive script, but it still retains a certain degree of writing freedom. Lishu evolved from regular script and seal script in Han Dynasty, and its strokes are concise and bright, mainly used for writing official documents and seals.

Although regular script is the origin of the other three fonts, cursive script, running script and official script have all formed their own unique styles and characteristics, which occupy an important position in calligraphy art.