How to Learn Shodo easily

Let's start Shodo!

You may think it's difficult to start Shodo, but there is a easy way to start for beginners.

What about the tools!?

There are a lot of things to prepare for Shodo.
We have to buy some specific tools to start traditional Shodo, such as brushes, sumi, paper and suzuri.
But you don't have to worry about it!

You can start with a brush pen!

You can practice shodo with a brush pen and regular paper.
Brush pens are obtainable on Amazon. If you practice Shodo with brush pens, it is okay to use regular paper, like copier paper. You don’t need to buy specific paper like Japanese Hanshi.
We have a free PDF file, on which there are some guides that you can easily practice our lessons.

Click here to download the PDF file.

Or, we also recommend a Magic Hanshi!

Magic Hanshi is a very convenient item that you can write on with water many times.
The letters disappear when the water dries. Since Sumi is not necessary for the Magic Hanshi, there is no need to worry about stainning your hands,table, room, etc.
Magic Hanshi is also obtainable on Amazon.

Of course, practicing with a regular Shodo set is also okay in our lessons.

Shodo Online Lesson 3, “Left Sweep” and “Right Sweep”

Shodo Lesson3!

Are you getting used to Shodo?
Next kanji is 木(tree)!
This lesson’s point is Left Sweep(左払い hidariharai) and Right Sweep(右払い migiharai).

Point 1

In the previous lesson, you have already learned how to write vertical strokes and horizontal strokes.
However be careful.
As I said, there are three ways of ending vertical strokes, which are Stop(止め), Sweep(払い harai) and Hook(はね hane).
You have to use Stop(止め tome), in the same you ended the horizontal stroke.

Point 2

When you draw a Left Sweep(左払い hidariharai), move the brush slowly along the red line without stopping.
At the end of the line, reduce the pressure and lift the brush off the paper.
This creates a pointed end.

Point 3

The Right Sweep(右払い migiharai) is the most difficult technique in the lesson.
Put the brush tip on the paper(A), move the brush slowly adding pressure, and stop at B temporarily.

Point 4

“Push” the brush to the right to arrange the shape of the line.

Shodo Online Lesson 2, “Horizontal Strokes” and “Vertical Strokes”

Shodo Lesson2

Now you are going to write 十(ten)!
You can learn how to draw horizontal strokes through this lesson.

Point 1

First, please draw a vertical stroke.

Point 2

When you write vertical strokes, the start of the stroke (起筆 kihitsu) should be more at an angle than horizontal strokes. About 30° is appropriate.

Point 3

Move the brush down slowly. For vertical strokes,
you don’t have to make the latter half thicker.
However, make sure vertical strokes are thicker than horizontal strokes.

Point 4

Depending on kanji, there are three ways to end the strokes. They are Stop(止め tome), Sweep(払い harai) and Hook(はね hane).
You are going to use Sweep(払い harai) for this kanji.
When you move the brush to where you want to stop, lift the brush up slowly and move it down to make the line sharp.