Shodo Online Lesson 9, “curve and hook” - Shodo with a Brush Pen

First, download and print a practice sheet here.

Today's stroke is "そりはね sorihane", meaning "curve and hook".

They are roughly divided into the following three types.







Now, let's start with the first type.
At point A, put the brush tip on the paper.
From there, apply pressure gradually to make the line thicker.
Drawing a smooth curve, move the brush to the point B.
At point B, move the brush upwards, while decreasing pressure.





Next is the second type.
The start of the stroke is the same as a usual vertical strokes. Please refer to the link below.

“Horizontal Strokes” and “Vertical Strokes”

Move the brush from A through B to C, making a smooth line.

If the middle of the stroke is thinner (around B), it looks good.
To do that, decrease pressure from A to B, and increase pressure from B to C.
At point C, move the brush upwards, while decreasing pressure.




Lastly, the third type.
This stroke is largely the same as the previous stroke, the only difference is the direction of the stroke.
Move the brush downwards, make the line thinner around B, and move it upwards at C.

Now let's practice the following characters!




stroke order
1. Dot type C
2. Curve and hook type1
3. Dot type B
4. Dot type A

On-yomi	しん shin
Kun-yomi	こころ kokoro
Meaning	heart

stroke order
1. Horizontal stroke
2. Curve and hook
3. Left sweep
4. Dot type1

On-yomi	か ka
Kun-yomi	ほこ hoko
Meaning	spear

stroke order
1. Vertical stroke
2. Dot type B
3. Dot type D
4. Horizontal stroke
5. Left sweep
6. Right sweep

On-yomi	こう kou
Kun-yomi	ひかり hikari
Meaning	light

How was this lesson?
All the contents that I introduced today are on the practice sheet.
Please download it from here.

Shodo Online Lesson 8, “hook” - Shodo with a Brush Pen

First, download and print a practice sheet here.

Today's stroke is "はね hane", meaning "hook".
Let's take a look at some typical "hook".

Hook type A

It is a normal vertical stroke until point A.
Slowly trail off to the left.

Hook type B

This stroke is similar to the "continued line".
Please refer to the past lesson shown below.

Continued line

It is a normal horizontal stroke until point 1.
As shown in the "continued line" lesson, apply pressure at point 1.
Sweep shortly to the lower-left.


Now, let's practice some kanji below.




Stroke order
1. Horizontal stroke
2. Hook type A
3. Dot type A

On-yomi	すん sun
Kun-yomi	-
Meaning	measurement

stroke order
1. Dot type A
2. Dot type B
3. Hook type B
4. Left sweep
5. Right sweep

On-yomi	けつ ketsu
Kun-yomi	あな ana
Meaning	hole

stroke order
1. Combination of continued line and hook
2. Left sweep

On-yomi	りき riki
Kun-yomi	ちから chikara
Meaning	power

stroke order
1. Hook type B
2. Curve and hook
3. Horizontal stroke

On-yomi	し shi
Kun-yomi	こ ko
Meaning	child

How was this lesson?
All the contents that I introduced today are on the practice sheet.
Please download it from here.

Shodo Online Lesson 7, “dot stroke” - Shodo with a Brush Pen

First, download and print a practice sheet here.

Today's stroke is "点 ten", meaning "dot".

Although the stroke is "dot", there are several variations of them.
In this lesson, I'll explain the four typical ways of drawing "dot".


Type A


When you draw the "dot" stroke, the main point you should keep in mind is to move the brush a little after putting it on the paper.
For type A, put the brush on the paper and move it downwards, while decreasing pressure.


Type B

For type B, have the brush trail off of the end of stroke.
This technique is called "はね hane", or "hook".
I'll explain it the other article someday.


Type C

For type C, draw a shape similar to a triangle as pictured above.
Move it to ①, while increasing pressure.
Keep the pressure the same, and move to ②.
Finally, move it upwards to the starting point, while decreasing the pressure.


Type D

For type D, put the brush at an angle of 45° and sweep it to the lower-left.


Now let's practice the following characters!



Stroke order
1. Horizontal stroke
2. Left sweep.
3. Right sweep.
4. Dot type A

On-yomi	けん ken
Kun-yomi	いぬ inu
Meaning	dog

Stroke order
1. Dot type B
2. Dot type D
3. Left sweep
4. Right sweep

On-yomi	か ka
Kun-yomi	ひ hi
Meaning	fire

stroke order
1. Dot type C
2. Curve
3. Dot type B
4. Dot type A

On-yomi	しん shin
Kun-yomi	こころ kokoro
Meaning	heart

How was this lesson?
All the contents that I introduced today are on the practice sheet.
Please download it from here.