Surviving works of Chinese calligraphy are generally divided into two categories; original works of calligraphy and rubbings. "Original" works include all handwritten copies or imitations of a particular work or calligrapher's style. Rubbings, on the other hand, are produced through a process that begins when a copy of an original work is inscribed into some non-pliable substance such as stone, pottery, or metal. The rubbing itself is made by placing a piece of paper over the carved characters and then carefully rubbing an inked pad over the surface of the paper. With a skilled engraving, the result is an almost perfect "negative" (black and white reversed) copy of the original handwriting, but also, by capturing the strength and vigor of the carving, provides an additional aesthetic dimension to the work.

The practice of erecting stelae (stone tablets) inscribed with characters began during the Eastern Han period (25 - 220). As the popularity of such stelae grew, they gradually became a common feature of tomb, palace, and temple architecture, and were used for a variety of commemorative and memorial functions. The widespread production, and durability, of stelae make them an exceptionally valuable source of historical information. Some bear early transcriptions of classical texts that have been passed down through the written record. These early versions offer a variety of opportunities for textual study and comparison. Other stelae, though they may contain only mundane information, nevertheless provide substantial amounts of historical data that were either neglected or misrepresented by official historical records. The characters themselves are also useful, for they allow us to study the development of writing and calligraphy over the centuries.

A modelbook is a compilation of rubbings generally printed from a specially carved set of stone or wood plates. Although is not clear when the production of modelbooks first began, the practice was quite common by the Sung dynasty (960 - 1279). Many scholars regard the "Modelbook Calligraphy of the Ch’un-hua Pavilion," completed in 992, as the ancestor of later compilations. Because literally hundreds of modelbooks could be produced from a single set of carved master plates, the practice served as a highly effective means of disseminating calligraphic styles, and became a indispensable tool for the study of calligraphy.