Calligraphy Story

For centuries, Chinese calligraphers have classified brushes into Xiaokai (小楷), Zhongkai (中楷), and Dakai (大楷) – a sizing system rooted in both brush dimensions and artistic purpose. Understanding these categories unlocks precise control over your strokes, whether you’re crafting delicate poetry or bold scrolls. The Brush Size Spectrum: From Miniature to Monumental Type ...

The Chinese brush pen (毛笔, máobǐ), a cornerstone of East Asian calligraphy and painting, embodies 5,000 years of cultural evolution. Archaeological evidence reveals its origins in Neolithic China (c. 3000 BCE), where pigments applied to pottery at the Jiangzhai site (Shaanxi province) show distinct brushstrokes 19. By the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE), oracle bone inscriptio...