• History
• Characters Analysis
• Calligraphy Set
• Styles and changes
• How to hold brush
• Essential technique
• Basic eight strokes
• Seven steps
• Structure
• Process of practicing
• Learn from rubbings
• Main Calligrahy Styles

Calligraphy Set - Four treasures of the study

What Chinese calligraphy supply do you need? To write Chinese characters, you need a brush, ink, paper and ink stone, commonly referred to as the four treasures of the study. In order to learn calligraphy, it is necessary to learn about these tools, select them carefully and take care of them. As the saying goes, one must temper the means to achieve the end. This is by virtue of necessity.

• Brush
• Ink Stick
• Paper
• Ink Slab or Ink Stone

Paper

Paper was invented by Cai Lun (7-121), according to legend. Archaeological discoveries reveal, however, that in the early Western Han Dynasty, or two hundred years earlier than the time of Cai Lun, a coarse paper made of hemp had already come into existence. Paper is of many kinds, but Xuan paper has been considered best throughout the ages for Chinese calligraphy. Xuan paper is produced in Jing County, Anhui Province. The county was under the jurisdiction of Xuanzhou Prefecture in the Tang Dynasty. Jing County paper was first shipped to Xuanzhou, then transshipped to other ports. That is whv Jing County paper is called'Xuan paper. The paper is soft and fine textured, suitable for conveying the artistic expression of both Chinese calligraphy and painting.

Xuan paper has good tensile strength and not easily eaten by moths. It can be preserved for a long time. It therefore has the reputation of lasting a thousand years. There are numerous kinds of Xuan paper, such as dan, jia, luowen, coral, tiger-skin and jade-plate. Quality depends on whether the paper is unprocessed, processed or half-processed. Unprocessed paper absorbs water easily. Ink filters through this paper easily, too. Put your brush on this paper to make sure the thickness or thinness of your liquid ink is suitable. Processed paper goes through a process whereby gelatine made from bones and alum are added. This kind of paper does not absorb water easily. It is stiff or hard to the touch. Half-processed paper has a neutral character, in that it absorbs water, but it does not filter through easily.

Xuan paper for painting and calligraphy is rather expensive. Beginners can use coarser, rougher paper instead. More commonly used paper includes yuanshu, maobian and baima. It is not good to use too glossy a paper, such as youguang and kaobei. It is easy to practice forceful writing on coarse, rough paper, but not on glossy, smooth paper. Calligraphers in ancient China used to practice writing on stone slabs found by the side of >a well, because it was difficult to obtain paper then. In the end they became good calligraphers. In modern times white-painted wooden boards, thin plastic film and plastic sheets are used as substitutes for paper to practice writing. You may erase the characters with a wet cloth and write again. You don't need to use paper, and the result is just as good. It's somewhat to your advantage to use coarse paper. If you practice handwriting under less favorable conditions, you develop greater adaptability. Do not think that you cannot produce good handwriting if you do not have good-quality paper to practice on.

Book References Guo, Bonan 1995. Gate to Chinese Calligraphy. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press.