Before you start drawing Chinese calligraphy characters, you’ll need the basic tools of the trade. The basic Chinese calligraphy writing tools are referred to as the Four Treasures of the Study. The Four Treasures of the Study are the brush, the paper, the inkstick, and the inkstone. When beginning to learn calligraphy, it is best to buy these as a set.
The first character to practice while learning Chinese calligraphy is Yong, 永. Yong means forever or permanence. It is widely believed that the Chinese character Yong contains the eight common strokes needed to perfect Chinese writing. When this character is mastered, one should be able to write any Chinese character beautifully.
These four basic knowledge foundations are essential for anyone learning about Chinese calligraphy. |