Clerical script emerged during the Qin–Han transition (around 3rd century BCE) as a simplification of the older
小篆 (small seal script) for faster record-keeping by
隶 (low-ranking clerks). Mature Han
隶书 — exemplified by steles like the
曹全碑 and
乙瑛碑 — is marked by 'silkworm heads and wild-goose tails' (
蚕头雁尾) strokes. It's the direct ancestor of modern
楷书 (regular script).
