Calligraphy Sets

Calligraphy Sets

SHODO SET ITEM

A Wide Selection of “Calligraphy & Penmanship Sets.”

You can choose from beginner-friendly calligraphy and penmanship tools for children.
We also offer sets designed for girls, boys, and even stylish sets for adults.
Please find the calligraphy set that best suits your needs.

Bring Calligraphy Closer with Set Items

Many people may feel that calligraphy is difficult to start.
In today’s world of emails and social media, spending time “writing characters with a brush” can be a truly fulfilling and special experience.
There are many kinds of calligraphy sets available.
At Shoyu Online, we carry everything from children’s calligraphy sets to adult-friendly sets and sutra-copying kits.
When starting calligraphy, a “calligraphy set” that includes all the essential tools is very convenient.
Many sets come with a bag, designed for neatly storing and carrying your tools with ease.

For writing letters at home, we recommend the “Adult Calligraphy Set.”
These have a different feel compared to school sets and are designed to be something you’d like to keep in your study.
The sutra-copying set makes it easy to enjoy sutra copying at home.
This “Sutra Copying Set,” quietly popular, usually comes with special paper and sample texts, making it very convenient even for first-timers who want to give it a try.

About Children’s Calligraphy Sets

There are many types of calligraphy sets, but for children we offer the “Kuretake Calligraphy Set” and “Akashiya Calligraphy Set.”
Made by brush and ink makers from Nara, these sets are reliable in quality! They include lightweight inkstones, washable bottled ink, and tools designed specifically for easy use by children.

Essential Tools for Calligraphy

If you’re starting calligraphy, here’s a simple introduction to the essential tools. Having these is enough to get started.
If you are wondering what the minimum tools are, please use this as a reference.
It’s a good idea to first gather the basics, then add extra tools as you go along.

Brush

The essential tool for writing is the brush. Brushes come in many sizes, lengths, and hair types.
To start, it’s best to have two brushes: a thick brush for kanji and hiragana, and a thin brush for small characters or your name.
Softer hair such as goat requires practice to handle, so beginners should start with harder hair types to get used to brush control.
At Shoyu Online, we categorize brushes by purpose, so you can choose according to the characters you want to write.

Inkstone

The inkstone is used for grinding ink and plays a very important role in achieving good ink quality.
You can choose the size and type of stone according to your needs, but for beginners, the “Shi-Go-Hira” size (included in most sets) is common.
As you get used to calligraphy, you can select from smaller to larger inkstones depending on the amount of ink you use.
If you don’t need portability, a slightly larger inkstone with stability might be more convenient.

　

Ink

There are both solid ink sticks and liquid bottled ink. Since ink sticks must be ground slowly,
bottled ink is faster and more convenient for practice or when you need to use a lot of ink.

Paperweight

The paperweight holds the paper in place.
For practice with hanshi paper, a single simple type is standard.
For long or large paper, a two-piece type that holds both ends is very useful.

Mat

Mats come in many colors, materials, and sizes.
For starters, felt mats in navy or black, sized for hanshi paper, are most commonly used for practice.
Felt is durable, and dark colors help hide ink stains, making them convenient.

Water Dropper

The water dropper is used to add water to the inkstone when grinding ink.
There are ceramic ones called “suiteki” and plastic ones like droppers. Plastic droppers are light and convenient for carrying and are often included in sets.
If you want something more refined, choose a ceramic suiteki.

Brush Roll

A brush roll is used to carry your brushes after use or to store them after washing and drying.
Choose one according to the length of your brushes, from large to small.

Hanshi Paper

For beginners, practice is the key, and hanshi paper is the most suitable.
Papers vary in texture, thickness, and how they absorb ink, so it’s hard to say one is the best.
For beginners, we recommend “Shodo Ichiban Hanshi”, which offers smooth brush movement and is affordable.

6 products