After enjoying calligraphy art, artists will be relieved to discover how easy it is to get started. The 4 essential Chinese calligraphy tools are called 文房四寶 (文房四宝Wénfángsìbǎo) or literally the 4 treasures of the study room. (note, this post contains affiliate links) Calligraphy Brush The Chinese brush is at least three thousand years old, the Chinese brush is […]
Calligraphy is well known for requiring fine precision, but with the expert work of a skilled operator, even an excavator can get involved!
Find the spirit of the brush! The soul of the brush reminds artists to use the brush with energy, offering calligraphy a life and spirit of its own. Character meaning : 筆魂 (笔魂 Bǐ hún) Pen/brush soul Style: Mix of Standard and running font 行楷
After a few decades of marriage, my mother lost her lifelong partner to terminal cancer. Even though we knew the day was coming, no one in the family somehow expected it when it finally came. I was actually the only one in the room with him when he left this world. There was no […]
2016 was full of surprises. New Year’s Resolution: Let it Go Character meaning from right to left: 捨得(舍得 Shěde)-Willing to part with, 放下 Fàngxià- Put down Style: Standard #楷書) A storied fable describes an older monk and a younger monk running into an elderly woman by a stream. As soon as she saw them, she […]
Chinese New Year historically has been the biggest holiday within the lunar calendar, a calendar aimed at managing the planting and harvest season. Lunar New Year was the longest rest period from work on the farm, resulting in large family gatherings, a tradition that still endures today. 春聯(春联Chūnlián), otherwise known as Spring Festival Couplets, are […]
Original Light Poetry in Chinese calligraphy Snowflakes fill the skyWhite in every directionSnowmen standing in rowsPuffing their chests and holding heads highSmiling with a confident airChecking to see who’s tallThe highest is not meTurns out it’s the building 雪花飞满天 四野白茫茫 雪人排排站 昂首挺胸膛 含笑真神气 看谁个儿高 最高不是我 原来是楼房 Xuěhuā fēi mǎn tiān sìyě bái mángmáng xuěrén pái pái […]
勇 Yǒng －Courage, strength, bravery Font: Standard script 楷書 (楷书kǎishū)In Chinese history, the legend of Huā Mùlán 花木蘭 (花木兰 ) from the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589) is heralded as a great story of courage. Mulan’s father was an aging retired […]
Original Light Poetry in Chinese calligraphy 兒童詩 （儿童诗 Értóng shī） English TranslationThe winter sun covers his headToo lazy to speak lazy to moveHeaven ordered him to sleepNo need to be nosy, no need to stand outThe fine winter blanket is softBut scratches the nose until it itchesCan’t help but: Ha-cheww (sneeze)Thick clouds partHe peaks out […]
In Chinese calligraphy: 醉 Zuì, meaning drunk. As the year rolls to an end, we raise a glass to celebrate. Breaking down the 醉character, we see that “酉”represents alcohol (which is 酒 Jiǔ), and “卒” represents the end. Alcohol drunk until the end generally leads to a state of drunkenness. Single characters in Chinese often become […]
