Created with the "Four Treasures of the Study" (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone), calligraphy emphasizes brushwork, character structure, composition, and ink control. Beyond artistic expression, it embodies traditional Chinese values like harmony and balance. Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chinese calligraphy continues to thrive globally, bridging cultures and inspiring modern art.

Brush：Tip of Infinity Artisan’s Cosmos

Today we start learning about calligraphy in this episode of the video. I will introduce to you the tools needed for calligraphy, that is, the so-called Four Treasures of the Study: the brush, ink, paper, and ink stone. The writing brush.

Brush：Tip of Infinity Artisan’s Cosmos

According to different degrees of softness, there are many categories. Here I will introduce the three most important types to you.

Brush：Goat

The goat hair brush is very soft in nature. The ancients said that "when the brush is soft, strange and wonderful strokes will emerge." Using a goat hair brush can easily make the brushstrokes rich in changes. However, because it lacks elasticity, it is very difficult for beginners to control.

Brush：Weasel Hair

 The weasel hair brush is made from the hair at the tip of the weasel's tail. It is tough in nature and rich in . But currently, pure weasel hair brushes are very difficult to buy, and the price is getting more and more expensive.

Brush：Mixed Hair

The mixed hair brush is made by mixing wool materials of different degrees of softness and hardness. It has a moderate degree of softness, hardness and elasticity, and is recommended for beginners.

Brush：To chose  suitable one

When it comes to the writing brush, I would like to mention two common ways of holding the brush by the way. The first one is that the index finger and middle finger are on top, and the ring finger and little finger are at the bottom. When writing, the brush is basically perpendicular to the paper surface. This method is more ancient, but it is very similar to the way we hold a pen now. It's just that the brush also needs to be kept as perpendicular to the paper surface as possible. This way of holding the brush is very suitable for writing small characters.

Brush：To control it

When it comes to the writing brush, I would like to mention two common ways of holding the brush by the way.The first one is that the index finger and middle finger are on top, and the ring finger and little finger are at the bottom. When writing, the brush is basically perpendicular to the paper surface. This method is more ancient, but it is very similar to the way we hold a pen now. It's just that the brush also needs to be kept as perpendicular to the paper surface as possible. This way of holding the brush is very suitable for writing small characters.

Ink: Soot Alchemy, Ebony Pulse

When carrying out advanced calligraphy and painting creation, the ink stick and the inkstone are indispensable tools. But beginners in calligraphy don't necessarily need to use them.When practicing calligraphy usually, it is more convenient to use ready-made bottled ink. In fact, there are some high-grade inks whose color and brightness completely exceed those of ordinary ink sticks, and there are countless varieties.

The Raw Paper and processed cooked paper

Regarding rice paper, here I mainly introduce two categories. The first one is raw paper, that is, paper that has not been specially processed. The second one is processed cooked paper. It is not easy to have ink problems when writing with this kind of paper.

The Paper of Practicing

When learning calligraphy, it will be helpful if you can buy paper with auxiliary lines. It can help you grasp the shape and structure of the characters more accurately. If you can't buy specialized calligraphy paper, you might as well go to a stationery   to look for this kind of blank newsprint. This kind of paper is actually very suitable for practicing Chinese calligraphy.