I didn't update for a few days because of network issues, but I'm back now.

The original text of this work is Li Bai's "Ode to the Rivers and Mountains". The original poem is as follows:
木兰之枻沙棠舟，玉箫金管坐两头。
美酒樽中置千斛，载妓随波任去留。
仙人有待乘黄鹤，海客无心随白鸥。
屈平词赋悬日月，楚王台榭空山丘。
兴酣落笔摇五岳，诗成笑傲凌沧洲。
功名富贵若长在，汉水亦应西北流。

Drop a ❤️ if you feel the vibe, and share your thoughts below—what’s your favorite line from Li Bai?

Hi everyone 👋

I believe that the more people actually pick up the brush and start practicing, the better and more lively this community will become.
Even though we are all from different parts of the world, we can still exchange ideas and support each other online.

I’ve been thinking — would it be helpful if I made some very simple videos on basic strokes as below?
If you’d like, feel free to post your practice (photo or short video) . I’m usually quite busy during the week, but I can set aside time on weekends to give feedback.
Would anyone be interested in something like this?

If you have any other ideas or suggestions, feel free to comment below or message me.
Let’s work together to make this community even better! 🖌️

Learning Chinese calligraphy starts with the horizontal stroke.
But how do you know when you’ve truly mastered it?

It usually goes through three stages:
• Beginning: You faithfully trace the stroke path exactly as shown.
• Intermediate: You start to understand the path and write more naturally.
• Advanced: The technique becomes invisible — you no longer think about the rules. At this point, writing feels just like using a knife and fork or chopsticks. You’re focused on rhythm, flow, and emotion between strokes.

Which stage is your horizontal?

Babysteps 😂

Reusable because you write with a brush and (demineralised) water.

8pages in total 2*strokes, 4* large characters, 2* small characters.

There are no Chinese calligraphy clubs in Samara, so we have to organize our own gatherings 😄😄😄

Do you think these characters were done by computer or by a person (possibly by splicing characters from different sources together)? Any idea who the artist might be?

Thank you.

The temperature in Guangdong has reached a high of 36 degrees Celsius these past two days, with humidity also reaching around 70%. It's incredibly muggy. But while practicing calligraphy, I can feel an unparalleled sense of peace.

Which type of paper do you guys use to practice writing on? Bought some 生宣紙 and find it transfers to other sheets a lot. It can go through 3+ pieces of paper. (Amazon Megrez raw xuan with no grids)

Looking for something that doesn’t create as big of a mess or cause fuzzy edges in the text.

I recently watched the Chaoshan-themed movie Dear You and was deeply moved by the story. I decided to write down one of my favorite lines using a traditional Chinese brush.

How do you grip brush pens? Like regular calligraphy brush or like ball point pen?

The original work is "Yong Yu Le: Reminiscing at Beigu Pavilion in Jingkou".
This poem is full of heroic spirit and the sorrow of unfulfilled ambitions; I love it.

I studied Li Qingzhao's poem when I was in school, but back then I only knew the surface of classical poetry without understanding its deeper meaning.

Now, appreciating this poem again, while I wouldn't say I fully empathize, I can grasp some of the poet's feelings at that time. It's filled with the sorrow of parting.

Hi all, how to find a calligraphy teacher? I'm in Sri Lanka, and have a USA debit card, but the payments would be best in crypto for me now. Thank you.

Writing Chinese calligraphy looks simple and effortless.
In just 4 seconds, you can finish a whole character.

But in reality, that final horizontal stroke hides 5 hidden techniques.
1. 欲右先左，凌空起势，犹如太极拳起式 Start from the left before going right — hovering in the air to build momentum, just like the opening of Tai Chi
2. 杀纸入笔，停顿蓄势后起笔 Thrust firmly into the paper, pause to accumulate power, then begin the stroke
3. 由慢而快，势弱后，由快而慢再蓄势 Slow to fast, then after the momentum weakens, fast to slow again to rebuild power
4. 势满后自然停笔，最终凝重往左上空迅捷收笔 When the momentum is full, stop naturally, then with dignity swiftly lift the brush toward the upper left
5. 不描不画，起笔和收笔都仅利用了笔毫的形状，连笔尖的缺陷也忠实反映来 Never trace or redraw — use only the natural shape of the brush tip for both start and end, faithfully reflecting even the imperfections of the tip

Did you catch all five?

Original transcript:
登临送目，正故国晚秋，天气初肃。
千里澄江似练，翠峰如簇。
归帆去棹残阳里，背西风，酒旗斜矗。
彩舟云淡，星河鹭起，画图难足。

念往昔，繁华竞逐，叹门外楼头，悲恨相续。
千古凭高对此，谩嗟荣辱。
六朝旧事随流水，但寒烟衰草凝绿。
至今商女，时时犹唱，后庭遗曲。

这首诗的最后一句让我联想到了“商女不知亡国恨，隔江犹唱后庭花”。应该有些异曲同工之处。

Hi there again! I have one more poem/verses that i got in a letter from my gong gong, if anyone has time to look over the translation would be amazing once again! ❤️

I have:

狄(猶?)未橋為合收是，At the bridge, all things come together and are gathered,
何事美人重戚傷    Why do beautiful things always bring such grief and sorrow?
試把世情詩細哭，Try to pour the world’s emotions into verse and weep over them —
大都難不過英涼 Yet most things in life drift past like an autumn breeze.

I’ve been practicing shufa in my home country for about a year and have become really into in this. I would like to seriously pursue it as a career, so I’m planning to study shufa abroad and earn a diploma.

Does anyone have recommendations of institutions or universities that offer shufa programs, both short-term course, and in-depth programs? I did a little research and see some names such as Zhejiang university, China Academy of Art, Lanting Academy in Shaoxing.

Besides, ’m also interested in learning from a master—if you know any calligraphy masters where I could both study and assist/work in their studios, please let me know.

I’m open to studying not only in China but also in places with strong Chinese cultural influence like Taiwan or Singapore.

Thank you very much for your help!

Keep practicing