■ CALLIGRAPHY TOOLS

 

● BRUSH (Fude/ 筆)  

Writing brush consists of a selected animal hair and a holder which is usually made of wood. There are many kinds and sizes of brush. Very traditional tools. 

>Video 1 (Link to Kumano Fude in Hiroshima, JAPAN- follow 1, 2, 3) 

>Video 2 (Link to traditional Fude making in Nara, JAPAN)

Japanese Calligraphy Auckland New Zealand ニュージーランド オークランド書道教室
Fude (Japanese Calligraphy Brush)

● SUMI INK (Sumi/ 墨)

There are two types of Sumi ink; sticks and liquid. In my class, we use the liquid type Sumi ink. If you want to follow the more traditional approach, students can use ink sticks to make the Sumi ink. 

>Video 3 (>>Link to traditional Sumi making at Kuretake in Nara, JAPAN)

 

● PAPER (Kami/ 紙)

Calligraphy paper is made from wood fibers. There are Japanese paper and Chinese paper.

>Video 4 (>>Link to traditional Rice paper making in Saitama, JAPAN)

● PAPERWEIGHT (Bunchin/ 文鎮)   

Calligraphy paper is extremely thin and light. A Bunchin is therefore compulsory.

 

● FELT MAT (Shitajiki/ 下敷き)

Used to assist with paper thickness. It is also hard to write on an unflat surface and the felt mat stops the ink from staining the underlying table.

Japanese Calligraphy Auckland New Zealand ニュージーランド オークランド書道教室
Ko Fude (Japanese Calligraphy Small Brush for writing small letters)

Japanese Calligraphy Auckland New Zealand ニュージーランド オークランド お習字教室
Liquid type of Sumi (ink)

 

You can get all of the tools from any Japanese Shops in New Zealand below.

 *Japan Mart (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch)

 *DAISO (Auckland and Wellington)

 

If you are attending to my lesson the class may be small or completely private. You can use our equipment:  Bunchin (paperweight), Shitajiki (felt mat), Suzuri (ink stones). Also you can buy equipment from my class.

 

 

 

 

Other  equipment can be provided on request (Special Brushes, Inks, Papers etc).