An 11th-century calligraphy scroll has set a record for a Chinese work of art — more than doubling the previous high price set at auction late last year.

The scroll, 11m (36ft) long, by Huang Tingjian — one of China’s most famous and influential calligraphers — was sold for 438 million yuan (£44 million) by Poly International Auction in Beijing.

Wu Guanzhong, known as one of the fathers of modern Chinese painting, has died at age 91. Painter was first living Chinese artist to be exhibited at British Museum.

Wu died on Friday in Beijing, the Xinhua news agency reported Saturday. He died just after donating five ink pieces to the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the report said.

China will seek to have its four ancient writing tools - the brush, ink stick, paper and ink stone -included in the world's intangible heritage list.

The four have been known as the "Four Treasures of the Study" since the Song Dynasty (960-1279) because they are the basic tools in traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting - both essential skills for a scholar.

Calligraphy literally means “good writing”. However, Chinese calligraphy cannot be defined as just “writing” Chinese characters. Neither can it be described as a way of making Chinese characters look “more beautiful”. These are misassumptions often made. The most important aspect of it is, that it is an emotional form of art, as it carries the thoughts and feelings of the artist. Calligraphy has been an important feature of the Chinese culture for the past 4000 years.Calligraphy is an art which is unique to Asian cultures and is regarded as the most sublime form of art in the Chinese culture

经过30余年的发展，当代书法在各个层面都呈现出蓬勃发展的良好态势，同时又因在发展中遭遇的诸种论争而引发广泛的关注。回顾所来径，当代书法走过的究竟是怎样的道路？展望前行路，当代书法如何在纷繁复杂的社会生活中继续自己的精彩？带着这些问题，本刊记者近日采访了中国书协分党组副书记、著名书法家陈洪武先生，请他解读当代书法的精、气、神。