Japanese Calligraphy Tutorial: 4 Basic Lines for Beginners

Discover the art of traditional Japanese calligraphy with artist Rie Takeda

The art of traditional Japanese calligraphy, also known as shodō, is an ancient practice that focuses on beauty, simplicity, and the connection between mind and body.

Rie Takeda (@rietakeda) is a professional artist and calligrapher who has taught shodō classes since 2002. She has also developed an original and effective way of teaching this art, known as The Mindfulness Method, which emphasizes achieving a balance between mind and body in a way that can adapt to all ages and abilities.

Join her in this tutorial for beginners, in which she will teach you how to make simple but beautiful calligraphy lines and help you improve your technique.

Materials: you will only need a flat surface to work on, a brush, an inkstone or a container, ink and paper.

4 basic calligraphic lines

1. Sokohitsu (Side Brushstroke)

To make your first brush stroke, gently hold your brush using only three fingers and keep it vertical. Rie Takeda explains that the brush should remain like this most of the time, with your arm, elbow, and wrist free of tension, so that the brush can glide delicately over the page.

Next, place the tip of the brush on the page at a 45° angle.

Slide it across the page in the same position and always maintain contact between the brush and the paper. When you reach the edge of the page, hold that position for a few seconds before gently lifting the brush.

Tip: you can check the angle of your brush strokes by marking the end of the lines with your brush.

2. Chokuhitsu (Direct Brushstroke)

For the next stroke, place your brush on the page following the same 45° angle. Then, without separating it from the paper, turn the brush forward until another 45° angle is achieved, so that the bristles are horizontal.

Slide your brush across the page and hold it in the same position for a few seconds.

Once the above is done, turn the brush back until you obtain the same initial 45° angle and then separate it from the page. Takeda claims that this movement will help you achieve a smoother, more flexible line.

3. Wave exercise with direct brush stroke

Place your brush on the page and gently press in the direction where you will draw your line.

As you begin to paint the line, lift the brush slightly without losing contact with the paper; then press again. Do this in consecutive strokes while moving slowly across the sheet until you create an irregular line that looks wider in some segments.

4. Wave exercise with lateral brush stroke

Place your brush on the paper at a 45° angle. Perform the same movement as before, pressing and lifting the brush repeatedly while gently sliding them across the sheet. The only difference is that your brush will maintain that 45° angle throughout the entire line.

Focus on the top line of your brush stroke, trying to keep it as straight and smooth as possible. The idea is that you can see a straight top line and a wavy effect at the bottom.

Did you like this tutorial? If you want to learn more about the philosophy and art of traditional Japanese calligraphy, as well as understand how it can help you achieve inner calm, check out Rie Takeda's online course, Shodo: introduction to Japanese calligraphy.

Spanish version by @art_torres_landa

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