To see this page in your own language use the following translation bar.

Japanese Calligraphy (continued)

by Graham Hawker

What distinguishes good calligraphy from bad?

To the trained eye the difference is instantly discernible, but just as with western art or music the difference is difficult to describe.

However, here are a few guidelines:

There is a natural balance in both the characters and the composition as a whole
Straight lines are strong and clear
Curved lines are delicate and mobile
There is variance in thickness and thinness
The amount of ink on the brush, or lack of it, is consistent throughout
The size of the characters are of a scale which gives life to the work
There is a rhythm in the whole work

You can think of calligraphy in terms of music.

The poem is like the musical score and the calligrapher like the pianist; each tries to interpret the score to produce a memorable rendering.

This document was last updated 22 July 2019