▲ 46 r/shufa
Chinese Surname in Shufa
The surname Dai (戴) can be traced all the way back to the Shang Dynasty.
That’s more than 2,800 years of history.
u/7conts7conts — 9 days ago
u/7conts7conts
▲ 1 r/Wechat
WeChat group for non-native Chinese calligraphy learners
I’ve set up a WeChat group for non-native speakers who are learning or interested in Chinese calligraphy (Shufa).
The group is mainly for cultural exchange around calligraphy. We also occasionally organize some activities, such as online discussions.
If anyone is interested in joining, feel free to comment or send me a message.
u/7conts7conts — 14 days ago
▲ 12 r/shufa
Has anyone tried online sessions with non-native Shufa learners?
Recently I tried an online session with a group of non-native Shufa learners.
The topic we focused on was: “How to Tell If a Chinese Character Is Well Written?”
The format itself already demonstrates something important: calligraphy doesn’t have to stay only in traditional settings. It can work with modern tools and fit into contemporary ways of connecting and learning.
We spent about 90 minutes online, and the discussion was lively and enjoyable.
It was an informal exchange, but it made me think this kind of online discussion could also work well for our community here.
Would anyone be interested in occasional online sessions focused on practice, questions, or topics like this? Or has anyone already tried something similar?
u/7conts7conts — 16 days ago
▲ 16 r/shufa
In Shanghai, Shufa can also happen in the café.
In Shanghai, you can talk about and even practice Shufa in a nice café.
A quiet moment blending modern life with traditional culture.
u/7conts7conts — 1 month ago
▲ 1 r/shanghai
Casual Coffee Chat: Let’s Talk About Chinese Calligraphy in English
I have a full-time job and in my spare time I teach Chinese calligraphy to foreigners in English. And I’m also working on a book related to it. That’s why I’m thinking about organizing these casual weekend coffee chats.
On Sunday afternoon, I’d like to have a relaxed chat about Chinese calligraphy and related culture in English. The location could be downtown Shanghai, e.g. Donghu lu, Fumin lu… It’s not a formal class, which is why we’re doing it as a casual coffee chat — with some structure but still relaxed and conversational.
Whether you have no background in calligraphy or already know a bit, you’re welcome to join.
Since I had great conversations with some foreigners in previous chats and created a WeChat group to keep in touch, I’m now organizing these casual weekend coffee chats to meet more like-minded friends.
If this sounds like a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon chatting, feel free to comment or DM me.
u/7conts7conts — 1 month ago
Free 1-hour Mandarin or Shanghainese trial class in Shanghai (online or offline)
A friend of mine is offering a free 1-hour trial lesson for anyone interested in learning Mandarin or Shanghainese.
The class can be either:
• Online, or
• Offline at People’s Park (very central location in Shanghai)
This is a relaxed trial session which is suitable for complete beginners as well as those who already have some foundation.
The teacher is a fully qualified language specialist with a Bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education from East China Normal University (Double Minors in Psychology & Chinese Language), who has over 20 years of professional experience, including the past 4 years dedicated exclusively to language training. The teacher specializes in Shanghai Dialect and International Chinese Language teaching, with strong expertise in pronunciation training.
If you’re interested, feel free to comment below or send me a DM. I can help arrange a time that works for you.
u/7conts7conts — 2 months ago
Why Vertical Strokes Are Harder Than Horizontal for Beginners
For beginners, writing vertical strokes is actually harder than horizontal ones.
This is because of how our wrists and fingers naturally move — left-to-right movements are easier than up-and-down movements.
That’s why you should follow the stroke routine and trace the shape exactly.
In the beginning stages of learning calligraphy, having some proper guidance can really help you progress more effectively and avoid many common mistakes.
If you’re currently practicing the vertical stroke and would like some feedback, feel free to share your work in the comments or send me a message directly.
u/7conts7conts — 2 months ago
▲ 2 r/shanghai
Anyone interested in a Guqin & Chinese calligraphy experience in a historic villa?
Anyone interested in trying guqin and Chinese calligraphy in a private historic villa near Jing’an Temple?
I’m organizing a small relaxed session on June 21 (Sunday) at 3:00 PM. It’s not a class — more like a casual cultural hangout where we can listen to the Guqin, try some Chinese calligraphy, and chat with others in a nice historic setting.
There will also be some Chinese participants who know traditional culture well and can share their thoughts during the session.
Quick details:
• Date: June 21 (Sunday)
• Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Location: A historic villa near Jing’an Temple (address after RSVP)
Open to complete beginners and English-friendly.
If you’re interested, just comment or DM me and I’ll send you the details.
About the cost
Free entry as it’s the venue for Guqin exhibition as well .
But limited to 10-15 people, currently 10 spots left.
u/7conts7conts — 2 months ago
▲ 52 r/shufa
Let’s make r/shufa more active — simple practice videos + feedback
Hi everyone 👋
I believe that the more people actually pick up the brush and start practicing, the better and more lively this community will become.
Even though we are all from different parts of the world, we can still exchange ideas and support each other online.
I’ve been thinking — would it be helpful if I made some very simple videos on basic strokes as below?
If you’d like, feel free to post your practice (photo or short video) . I’m usually quite busy during the week, but I can set aside time on weekends to give feedback.
Would anyone be interested in something like this?
If you have any other ideas or suggestions, feel free to comment below or message me.
Let’s work together to make this community even better! 🖌️
Learning Chinese calligraphy starts with the horizontal stroke.
But how do you know when you’ve truly mastered it?
It usually goes through three stages:
• Beginning: You faithfully trace the stroke path exactly as shown.
• Intermediate: You start to understand the path and write more naturally.
• Advanced: The technique becomes invisible — you no longer think about the rules. At this point, writing feels just like using a knife and fork or chopsticks. You’re focused on rhythm, flow, and emotion between strokes.
Which stage is your horizontal?
u/7conts7conts — 3 months ago
▲ 0 r/shanghai
Anyone in Shanghai interested in traditional Chinese culture experiences？
Hi guys,
I know a lot of foreigners come to Shanghai mainly for bars, nightlife and social stuff.
But I'm just curious — would any of you also be interested in traditional Chinese culture experiences? For example, I have a friend who is a Guqin (ancient Chinese zither) non-heritage inheritor. They’re currently holding a free exhibition on Fumin Road downtown Shanghai, very close to Jing’an Temple.
They mentioned they’d be happy if some foreign friends come by to check it out.
No pressure at all, just wondering if anyone might be interested in something like this?
u/7conts7conts — 3 months ago
▲ 9 r/shufa
4 Seconds to Write One Character… But Its Final Stroke Contains 5 Hidden Techniques
Writing Chinese calligraphy looks simple and effortless.
In just 4 seconds, you can finish a whole character.
But in reality, that final horizontal stroke hides 5 hidden techniques.
- 欲右先左，凌空起势，犹如太极拳起式 Start from the left before going right — hovering in the air to build momentum, just like the opening of Tai Chi
- 杀纸入笔，停顿蓄势后起笔 Thrust firmly into the paper, pause to accumulate power, then begin the stroke
- 由慢而快，势弱后，由快而慢再蓄势 Slow to fast, then after the momentum weakens, fast to slow again to rebuild power
- 势满后自然停笔，最终凝重往左上空迅捷收笔 When the momentum is full, stop naturally, then with dignity swiftly lift the brush toward the upper left
- 不描不画，起笔和收笔都仅利用了笔毫的形状，连笔尖的缺陷也忠实反映来 Never trace or redraw — use only the natural shape of the brush tip for both start and end, faithfully reflecting even the imperfections of the tip
Did you catch all five?
u/7conts7conts — 3 months ago
▲ 18 r/shufa
How to Write the Horizontal Stroke (横) – Shufa Beginner
Here's a short clip of writing the basic horizontal stroke (横) — for Shufa beginners.
Slow and steady practice. Hope this helps!
u/7conts7conts — 3 months ago
▲ 19 r/shufa
The beauty of Shufa
Sharing the beauty of Shufa with the world, stroke by stroke. 🌍
u/7conts7conts — 4 months ago