Once you’ve mastered these 8 strokes and you know the stroke order, you should (in theory!) be able to correctly write any Chinese character ( 4). There are eight different types of strokes in Chinese calligraphy, and each have a specific way they should be drawn. Once you’ve practiced writing characters, the stroke order will come more naturally to you. In general, characters are written top to bottom, left to right, and horizontal to vertical ( 3).įor more complicated characters, you can always look up the correct stroke order online. There is a lot to learn about Chinese calligraphy, but if you’re just starting out, here are some of the most important things to pay attention to. This was much more affordable than silk ( 2).ġ6 Chinese Idiom Stories – Speak like a Nativeġ6 of the Best Chinese Idioms – Our Favourites and the Stories behind them Learning Chinese idiom stories and proverbs is a brilliant way to get into higher level Chinese, and the great thing is, they aren’t that hard to… Learn the Basics of Chinese Calligraphy Lastly, paper was originally made from the fibers of plants such as mulberry, hemp, or bamboo. Liquid ink can also be used, but is more difficult to transport and can be messier. This way, he or she can control the viscosity of the ink ( 2). Chinese Calligraphy // Here you can see a decorated ink block and ink stone The calligrapher can then use an inkstone to grind the block down to powder and mix it with water. Soot is collected and pressed into blocks that are often decorated. Ink is made from lampblack, created from burning pine resin or oil under a hood. The brush must be flexible in order to create the flowing strokes in calligraphy ( 2). The hair is pushed into a tube made of bamboo or wood, creating the handle. Together, these are called 文房四宝 (wénfángsìbǎo), or the Four Treasures of Study ( 2).īrushes are traditionally made with white, black, or yellow animal hair (such as rabbit, goat, or weasel hair) bundled together and coming to a point. You don’t have to be good at it right away to practice it and have fun!Ĭhinese Calligraphy – Calligraphy MaterialsĬhinese Calligraphy – Differences Between English and Chinese CalligraphyĬhinese Calligraphy – Styles of CalligraphyĬhinese Calligraphy – Simplified Vs. Some styles of calligraphy are more difficult to read than others, but all are beautiful and bring a certain element of grace to whatever medium they’re written on.Ĭalligraphy masters have spent years and years perfecting their craft, but don’t be intimidated. You’ll find Chinese calligraphy on scrolls, paintings, and inscribed on statues or temples.
However, it was later, during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) when calligraphy, using a brush and ink, began to develop ( 2). The earliest forms of Chinese writing were found carved on animal bones and bronze vessels during the Shang Dynasty (around 1600-1100 BCE).
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