Running script, xingshu, is often described as the perfect balance between structure and freedom. This essay will explore this apparent paradox by analyzing how xingshu utilizes a foundational framework to give direction to its free-flowing forms. The essay will begin by defining the subtle structural elements borrowed from regular script (kaishu) which serve as the anchor of each character. Though simplified and connected, the fundamental architecture of the characters is still discernible, providing a crucial element of legibility. This allows the script to retain an underlying sense of order while allowing for expressive flexibility.