The biggest achievement during the Northern and Southern Dynasties was in relation to the regular script (kai shu), which exists mainly in the form of tablets and tombstones. Calligraphy from this period not only inherited and developed the style of the Han Dynasty clerical script, but also paved the way for the full blossoming of the regular script during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties.

The other significant achievement during this period was wei bei of the Northern Dynasties (386-581). Wei bei is the summation of all tablets and tombstones of Northern Wei (386-534). Renowned Tang Dynasty kai shu calligraphers such as Yu Shinan, Ouyang Xun and Chu Suiliang were adherents to the wei bei style.

Masterpieces during this period include "Cuan Long Yan Bei", "Liu Huaimin Mu Zhi", "Xiao Dan Bei" and "Yi He Ming" of the Southern Dynasties; and "Song Gao Ling Miao Bei", "Shi Ping Gong Zao Xiang", "Zhang Menglong", "Hua Yue Song" of the Northern Dynasties.