Chinese calligraphy stroke

In Chinese calligraphy, the use of the brush includes holding the brush which we discussed two pages above and the movement of this brush to draw the stroke which is the smallest unit of the Chinese character.

The movement of the brush, or stroke, is divided into three parts: the start, the body, and the ending. It is essential to know them to practice Chinese calligraphy.

The Start

The stroke in Chinese calligraphy distinguishes two starts: the hidden tip and the visible tip. The hidden tip, on the left in the image below, consists of starting in the opposite and diagonal direction of the stroke. As its name suggests, this allows hiding the trace of the brush tip. The visible tip, on the right in the image, starts diagonally but in the direction of the stroke. It thus highlights the tip of the brush.

The Body

To give the body thick and thin lines, the pressure of the brush on the paper must be more or less heavy. In Chinese, the image of the spring is used to talk about the energetic effect that must be released in this stroke.

The Ending

Chinese calligraphy distinguishes five essential endings. The pressed ending, on the left in the image below, consists of pressing the brush at the end of the stroke. The raised ending, in the middle of the image, consists of gently lifting the brush at the end of the stroke. The returning tip, on the right, highlights the tip of the brush by retracing its steps at the end of the stroke.

The outgoing tip, on the left in the image below, consists of energetically lifting the brush at the end of the stroke. The blocked tip, on the right, requires abruptly stopping the movement at the end of the stroke.

No need to emphasize the importance of these essential concepts for anyone who wants to learn Chinese calligraphy.