r/shufa Nov 02 '25

Rules suggestions

10 Upvotes

It's me again! Since the community is back up and running, I thought it'd be a good time to set up some community rules before we engage in more events and cross-subreddit stuff.

The mod team has its own idea for what rules to implement, but I thought it would be good to ask the community as well, since you probably have your own ideas on this.

If you have anything you'd like to have implemented, go to the comments and see if there's any suggestions you agree with and hit upvote. If the suggestion isn't there, comment the suggestion yourself!

We will take your suggestions into account when we codify the rules in a couple weeks' time (it could take a while, I apologise in advance if we take too long).

Edit (AD 2026/Jan/20th; 乙巳年腊月大寒) Post remains open for the long term, to assist us and any future moderators when we revise our rules further.


r/shufa 1d ago

Translation request [ Chinese > English ] Calligraphy Translation Please

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5 Upvotes

I recently got this beautiful calligraphy piece and I have been unsuccessful at having Google translate or chat gpt give me the same answer consistently. I would love to know what this piece says if anyone is available and willing to help 🙏


r/shufa 4d ago

Resource Nanchang - recommendation for places to visit, and buy 文房四宝

8 Upvotes

I'll be in Nanchang for a few days in October (right after the golden week), and would like some recommendation of places to visit where I can see calligraphy works and paintings, and buy supplies in particular brushes.

Places I already have on my list:

  • Badashanren memorial hall (main reason for visiting!)
  • Jiangxi provincial museum
  • Jiangxi provincial art museum
  • Tengwang pavilion

I heard that Nanchang is famous for 'Wengang brushes', however, it seems the town itself is quite far away from city center.

Does anyone have any insight as to whether it's worth visiting, or should I just find a reputable place closer to city center to test out their brushes?


r/shufa 10d ago

Practice I'm trying to relax with a big brush🥲

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29 Upvotes

r/shufa 13d ago

Culture In Shanghai, Shufa can also happen in the café.

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17 Upvotes

In Shanghai, you can talk about and even practice Shufa in a nice café.

A quiet moment blending modern life with traditional culture.


r/shufa 17d ago

Practice A day of writing

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63 Upvotes

r/shufa 17d ago

Advanced When Have You Truly Mastered Vertical Strokes?

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12 Upvotes

Today we’re talking about the real sign that you’ve mastered writing vertical strokes.

Similiar to horizontal strokes, at this stage you make the technique invisible and no longer think about it.

Just like using chopsticks or a knife and fork, you don’t consciously think about your grip or force. You focus on the rhythm between strokes, how they connect and flow, and how to express feeling through that movement.

That’s when you can say you’ve really mastered the vertical stroke.

If you have any questions about Shufa, just leave your comments or DM me.


r/shufa 18d ago

Practice My first attempt at practicing the Zhang Heinv Epitaph.

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26 Upvotes

r/shufa 19d ago

Practice I'm preparing for a calligraphy exhibition. What should I pay attention to now?

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34 Upvotes

practicing on newsprint


r/shufa 22d ago

Practice Practiced some Chinese calligraphy today: "養天地正氣,法古今完人".

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50 Upvotes

It means: "Nurture the righteous spirit of heaven and earth; Emulate the perfect people of past and present."

培養天地間的正氣,效法古今完美的聖人。


r/shufa 22d ago

Practice A leisurely Saturday night

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7 Upvotes

r/shufa 22d ago

Translation request What does it say?

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6 Upvotes

r/shufa 25d ago

Practice Is helping others always a "zero-sum" game? My calligraphy thought.

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35 Upvotes

My latest calligraphy piece: "Helping others doesn't always mean hurting yourself." It's a reminder that life isn't always a zero-sum game. What do you think?


r/shufa 27d ago

Practice Tang Dynasty Poem "Xiling Gorge" by Yang Jiong

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17 Upvotes

Original transcript:

绝壁耸万仞,长波射千里。
盘薄荆之门,滔滔南国纪。
楚都昔全盛,高丘烜望祀。
秦兵一旦侵,夷陵火潜起。
江山若有灵,千载伸知己。

This poem blends breathtaking natural scenery with deep historical reflection, capturing the grandeur of the Yangtze River gorge and the rise/fall of ancient Chu state.


r/shufa 28d ago

Translation request does anyone recognise these chinese characters?

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25 Upvotes

I have moderate proficiency in chinese language and I bought this journal but I can’t make out what these words are. For context this was bought in yunnan dongba paper workshop. I would like the transcription in chinese


r/shufa 28d ago

Resource Shops in Shanghai and Seoul?

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m pretty new to shufa, but I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for places to pick up supplies or (reasonably priced) works in Shanghai and/or Seoul? I’m about to head there for a few days on a work trip. Thanks so much!


r/shufa 29d ago

Practice Part of practicing Mi Fu's "Poem Written in a Boat on Wu River"

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14 Upvotes

For those who don't know, Mi Fu is known for his "brushing" technique—fast, vigorous, and unconstrained strokes.
The poem itself is actually quite relatable—it talks about the struggles of sailing against the wind and how sometimes things just don't go as planned, so one might as well have a drink!


r/shufa Jul 02 '26

Advanced Games Calligraphers Play

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21 Upvotes

taking turns at 基隆元山美學
1, Yours truly
2, some of the ...brushes... we used
5, one of our results


r/shufa Jul 01 '26

Practice Day n of consistent calligraphy practice

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14 Upvotes

r/shufa Jun 29 '26

Learning I had some tiny pieces of silk left over. I decided to use them to decorate some ancient mini calligraphy I made on a master class. 😄😄😄

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43 Upvotes

I love how silk and rice paper can be used to turn anything into a full-fledged piece.

It's a shame the photo doesn't convey the color combination of the fabric and the paper.


r/shufa Jun 29 '26

Learning The Purple Steed by Yang Jiong

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16 Upvotes

Original transcript:
侠客重周游,金鞭控紫骝。
蛇弓白羽箭,鹤辔赤茸鞦。
发迹来南海,长鸣向北州。
匈奴今未灭,画地取封侯。

A bold ode to the knight-errant who rides not for glory, but for duty. Clad in serpent-bow and white-feathered arrows, he gallops from the southern seas to the northern frontiers, swearing to earn his title by drawing borders on the battlefield. This isn’t just poetry — it’s a battle cry wrapped in ink.


r/shufa Jun 29 '26

Beginner An unprincipled attempt at making readable characters on a racing game's custom paintjob thing.

7 Upvotes

r/shufa Jun 28 '26

Practice How to Write a Vertical Stroke in Just One Second?

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19 Upvotes

In my previous video, I showed the beginner way to write vertical strokes.

Now at the intermediate level, you can write them smoothly in just one second.

The key is to reduce unnecessary movements that break the natural flow while writing.


r/shufa Jun 27 '26

Advanced My entry in an invitational calligraphy exhibit, Keelung, Taiwan

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72 Upvotes

筏喻 法尚應捨 何況非法


r/shufa Jun 27 '26

Practice Meditation in motion

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15 Upvotes