Title: Shu Dao: A Calligraphy Score Framework Linking Calligraphy, Music, and Performance

Abstract

This study presents the Calligraphy Writing Score Representation (CWSR) and introduces Shu Dao, a conceptual framework that redefines East Asian calligraphy as a dynamic performance art rather than a fixed visual object. Drawing inspiration from established traditions like Japanese Shodō and embodied cultural rituals such as Chadō, this approach treats calligraphy similarly to musical notation. Rather than treating characters as static images, the proposed method encodes every brushstroke as a sequential, executable action, effectively creating a "calligraphy score." Within a structured spatial grid, these characters are detailed with specific attributes, including stroke type, execution sequence, spatial coordinates, trajectory, compositional function, and dynamic elements like brush pressure and pacing. This representation preserves the temporal and expressive nuances of calligraphic creation, which are often lost in traditional image-based models.

The paper outlines three primary contributions. First, it defines CWSR as a multi-level structured notation system that captures calligraphy at the levels of individual strokes, character structures, and overall composition (including layout and zhangfa), alongside their rhythmic and performative dynamics. Second, it conceptualizes Shu Dao as a framework mediated by scores, modeling calligraphy as a structured performance. Third, it lays the computational groundwork for analyzing, visualizing, and generating calligraphic works via AI agents. Collectively, these innovations connect calligraphy with musical notation and performative cultural practices, thereby facilitating human-AI co-creation in the fields of computational calligraphy and digital humanities.

Source: arXiv Generated at: 2026-06-02 00:00:00 UTC