Chinese Calligraphy Are you familiar with chinese calligraphy? It's different from other type of handwritings. Calligraphy is the art of handwriting and it literally means beautiful writing. It's a significant part of the chinese civilization. Calligraphy has also influenced ink and wash painting, in which similar tools and techniques are implemented.The paper, ink, brush, and inkstone are the essential tools of calligraphy: they are known together as the Four Treasures of the Study(文房四宝）。 In addition to these four tools, desk pads and paperweights are also used in calligraphy. My daughter has been learning calligraphy for 3 years and she likes calligraphy as well as Chinese painting. I wish she sticks to it.