Chinese Calligraphy for Beginners: Getting Started
Essential Tools
The traditional calligraphy set includes the 文房四宝 (wénfáng sì bǎo) — Four Treasures of the Study: brush (笔, bǐ), ink (墨, mò), paper (纸, zhǐ), and inkstone (砚, yàn). For beginners, a medium-sized wolf-hair brush and practice paper with grid guidelines are sufficient.
Basic Techniques
Hold the brush vertically, gripping it with three fingers near the middle. Keep your wrist elevated above the paper. Each stroke begins with a "hidden tip" entry — press then lift slightly to start the stroke cleanly. The key is controlling pressure: press harder for thick strokes, lighter for thin ones.
Practice Path
Start with the eight basic strokes using the character 永 (yǒng, eternal). Then practice simple characters: 一, 二, 三, 人, 大, 天. Use our Stroke Order tool to learn correct sequences before writing with a brush. Generate practice sheets for structured training.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special brushes for calligraphy? ▼
Traditional Chinese calligraphy uses a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone — the Four Treasures of the Study. However, beginners can start with a regular brush pen or even a felt-tip marker to learn stroke control.
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