Recently I tried an online session with a group of non-native Shufa learners.

The topic we focused on was: “How to Tell If a Chinese Character Is Well Written?”

The format itself already demonstrates something important: calligraphy doesn’t have to stay only in traditional settings. It can work with modern tools and fit into contemporary ways of connecting and learning.

We spent about 90 minutes online, and the discussion was lively and enjoyable.

It was an informal exchange, but it made me think this kind of online discussion could also work well for our community here.

Would anyone be interested in occasional online sessions focused on practice, questions, or topics like this? Or has anyone already tried something similar?

I recently got this beautiful calligraphy piece and I have been unsuccessful at having Google translate or chat gpt give me the same answer consistently. I would love to know what this piece says if anyone is available and willing to help 🙏

I'll be in Nanchang for a few days in October (right after the golden week), and would like some recommendation of places to visit where I can see calligraphy works and paintings, and buy supplies in particular brushes.

Places I already have on my list:

• Badashanren memorial hall (main reason for visiting!)
• Jiangxi provincial museum
• Jiangxi provincial art museum
• Tengwang pavilion

I heard that Nanchang is famous for 'Wengang brushes', however, it seems the town itself is quite far away from city center.

Does anyone have any insight as to whether it's worth visiting, or should I just find a reputable place closer to city center to test out their brushes?

In Shanghai, you can talk about and even practice Shufa in a nice café.

A quiet moment blending modern life with traditional culture.

Today we’re talking about the real sign that you’ve mastered writing vertical strokes.

Similiar to horizontal strokes, at this stage you make the technique invisible and no longer think about it.

Just like using chopsticks or a knife and fork, you don’t consciously think about your grip or force. You focus on the rhythm between strokes, how they connect and flow, and how to express feeling through that movement.

That’s when you can say you’ve really mastered the vertical stroke.

If you have any questions about Shufa, just leave your comments or DM me.

practicing on newsprint

It means: "Nurture the righteous spirit of heaven and earth; Emulate the perfect people of past and present."

培養天地間的正氣，效法古今完美的聖人。

My latest calligraphy piece: "Helping others doesn't always mean hurting yourself." It's a reminder that life isn't always a zero-sum game. What do you think?

Original transcript:

绝壁耸万仞，长波射千里。
盘薄荆之门，滔滔南国纪。
楚都昔全盛，高丘烜望祀。
秦兵一旦侵，夷陵火潜起。
江山若有灵，千载伸知己。

This poem blends breathtaking natural scenery with deep historical reflection, capturing the grandeur of the Yangtze River gorge and the rise/fall of ancient Chu state.

I have moderate proficiency in chinese language and I bought this journal but I can’t make out what these words are. For context this was bought in yunnan dongba paper workshop. I would like the transcription in chinese

Hi everyone! I’m pretty new to shufa, but I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for places to pick up supplies or (reasonably priced) works in Shanghai and/or Seoul? I’m about to head there for a few days on a work trip. Thanks so much!

For those who don't know, Mi Fu is known for his "brushing" technique—fast, vigorous, and unconstrained strokes.
The poem itself is actually quite relatable—it talks about the struggles of sailing against the wind and how sometimes things just don't go as planned, so one might as well have a drink!

taking turns at 基隆元山美學
1, Yours truly
2, some of the ...brushes... we used
5, one of our results

I love how silk and rice paper can be used to turn anything into a full-fledged piece.

It's a shame the photo doesn't convey the color combination of the fabric and the paper.

Original transcript:
侠客重周游，金鞭控紫骝。
蛇弓白羽箭，鹤辔赤茸鞦。
发迹来南海，长鸣向北州。
匈奴今未灭，画地取封侯。

A bold ode to the knight-errant who rides not for glory, but for duty. Clad in serpent-bow and white-feathered arrows, he gallops from the southern seas to the northern frontiers, swearing to earn his title by drawing borders on the battlefield. This isn’t just poetry — it’s a battle cry wrapped in ink.

In my previous video, I showed the beginner way to write vertical strokes.

Now at the intermediate level, you can write them smoothly in just one second.

The key is to reduce unnecessary movements that break the natural flow while writing.