Chinese and sumi sets: what is in the box and why
A traditional set contains four core tools, and each one exists for a specific reason.
What this covers
- The four treasures
- The brush
- The ink stick and the inkstone
- Bottled ink as an alternative
- The felt mat
- Paper and absorbency
- Water-writing cloths
- The seal and paste
- Caring for the set
The four treasures
Traditional East Asian calligraphy is built around brush, ink, paper and inkstone, known collectively as the four treasures of the study. A complete set contains all four plus a few practical extras. Understanding what each does explains why the set is assembled the way it is.
The brush
A calligraphy brush comes to a fine point when wet and spreads under pressure, so a single brush produces both hairlines and broad strokes. Brushes vary in hair type and stiffness: firmer brushes hold their shape and suit beginners, softer brushes hold more ink and give more expressive variation.
The ink stick and the inkstone
Ink is traditionally supplied as a solid stick, ground with water on a stone to produce liquid ink. Grinding lets you control the concentration, from a dense black for finished work to a dilute grey for washes. It also builds a short period of focus before writing, which is treated as part of the practice.
Bottled ink as an alternative
Ready-made sumi ink exists and is entirely legitimate for practice, where grinding for every session is impractical. Most sets include both options or make room for them. Bottled ink is more consistent; ground ink gives more control over density.
The felt mat
A thick felt mat under the paper absorbs excess ink and stops it pooling or transferring to the table. It also gives a slightly yielding surface that suits the brush. Working without one on a hard table produces blotting and a brush that skids.
Paper and absorbency
Traditional papers are considerably more absorbent than Western writing paper, which is why a stroke spreads as it lands. That spread is part of the aesthetic, and controlling it is much of the skill. Practising on less absorbent paper first is a reasonable way to learn brush control.
Water-writing cloths
A treated cloth that darkens where water touches it and fades as it dries lets you practise strokes indefinitely without ink or paper. It is widely used for exactly that and it is why so many beginner sets include one. It does not behave identically to ink on paper, but it drills the movement.
The seal and paste
Many sets include a stone seal and red paste, used to sign finished work. The seal is pressed into the paste and then onto the paper. It is optional for practice and traditional for anything you intend to keep or give.
Caring for the set
Rinse brushes thoroughly in clean water and reshape the point before hanging them to dry, tip down where possible. Never leave a brush standing in water on its hairs. Wash the inkstone after grinding so dried ink does not build up in the well.
How this applies when you are buying
Brush pens make their thick and thin strokes through pressure, so they are the most forgiving introduction to lettering and the most demanding to keep consistent. Small tips suit normal writing size; large tips need bigger letters to show what they can do. Keep them horizontal and capped or the tips dry out unevenly.
Brush pens and brush markers with flexible tips, in single sizes and in colour sets, for modern lettering and for illustration.
On the shelf at the moment
These come straight from the The Calligraphy Shop shelf as you read this, not from a list typed when the article was written, so the prices and the availability are current.
- 72 Colors Dual Watercolor Markers Pens for Adult Coloring Books with Bag – $18.99
- Kuretake ZIG Calligraphy Marker Pens, 12 Colors set, 2mm & 3.5mm Dual Tip Markers – $19.99
- Calligraphy Hand Lettering Brush Pens Drawing Markers Beginners – $9.99
Where to go from here
All of the above is the reasoning we use behind the counter at The Calligraphy Shop when someone asks. If you are weighing up two options and the listing does not settle it, ask: +1 917-652-4475 during opening hours, or contact@inkandletter.shop, answered within one business day.
If you order from us
Standard shipping is a flat $5.95 anywhere in the United States, and it is free once the order passes $40. Weekday orders normally leave The Calligraphy Shop the next working day, with three to seven business days in transit after that. Unopened items can go back within 30 days of delivery. Shipping Policy · Refund and Returns
Related sections of the shop
Related reading
- Broad-edge or pointed pen: which one writes the script you want – The two families of calligraphy nib create contrast in completely different ways. Choosing wrongly is the usual reason a first attempt stalls.
- Nib sizes and what they mean for letter height – Tip width is the specification that decides how large you can comfortably write. It is also the one most often ignored.
- Why practice paper with a printed grid is worth buying – Consistent slant and height are most of what separates practised writing from unpractised writing.
Who wrote this
Written by the team at The Calligraphy Shop, a calligraphy and hand-lettering supplies shop at 1982 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11234. The guidance here is what we tell customers across the counter, and it is based on the products we actually stock and the questions we are actually asked. Where we are not certain of something, we say so rather than fill the gap. More about the shop · Contact us