【Culture】What is traditional Japanese calligraphy？

First, I must tell you about what to use in Japanese calligraphy.

The ancient people used a brush with black ink, and wrote some words down on Japanese paper, “washi.”

To the above, there are three keywords to need to be explained.

1. Brush “Fude”

Simpler the previous brush, and it was made from bamboo and animal’s hair, however it was so long. Nowadays, the brush for daily use is not so long.

Two different types of brush, small one “kofude” and large one “oofude,” whichever you can use it depends on what you are going to write.

When you would like to write large letters, it prefers to use oofude, on the other hand, if you would like to write small letters such as your name or poem or letters, it is more convenient to use kofude.

2.Black ink, “Sumi”

Black ink was made from using black sharpening stone. Usually, black sharpening stone used with the inkstone, “Suzuri.”

When you drip some water on the inkstone, then sharp with the black sharpening stone, black ink appeared. It was like a magic! However, we rarely do such a step due to the development of “bokujyu,” which is already made of black ink…recently.

Considering traditional way, we must make the ink with the black sharpening stone.

3.Japanese paper, “Washi”

Compared with normal paper, it is thickened, and be rough. Through a long process, it is made by hand.

Nowadays, it has many different color and designs, but traditional Japanese paper was white.

When you try to write Japanese calligraphy, I suggest to use white Japanese paper so your writing can see well.

Please find your favorite tools, or you will love Japanese calligraphy more!