Book excerpt: Clear instructions and 148 photos welcome you to the subtle, fascinating world of Japanese calligraphy. Beginning with a summary of the art's history, this guide then helps you understand the two systems of script that Japanese uses together: kanji, the ideogram-like characters borrowed from the Chinese language; and kana, the purely phonetic characters. Next, you'll learn the correct way to use the "four treasures of study" (brush, ink, inkstone, and paper), as well as seals and other tools. Then begin learning to calligraph characters, words, and even poems using either a large brush or a small writing brush. Try your hand at joined calligraphy, which is considered the soul of Japanese calligraphy. Finally, a gallery of works of calligraphy art by grand masters and other renowned experts offers even more inspiration.