The Hanging Arm Technique is 
recommended for more advanced levels.

The Resting Wrist Method is 
recommended for beginners.

Keep head straight. Keep head and neck in a naturally bent curve but not too forward, otherwise the back of the neck will be strained. Observe each stroke through the nose down to the center of chest. Use the nose as an imaginary centerline for separating each Chinese character into left and right spheres but do not stare at the nose, chest or brush tip or anywhere.

Relax shoulders. Rest left palm near the center of the torso to stabilize and flatten the paper whether we are resting the right elbow on the desk or hanging the right arm while holding a brush. At this moment, it’s okay to tilt the head a little bit leftward if you are right-handed. This is normal for most people. But be aware that tilting too much (say, more than 10 degrees from the base of our neck) will eventually make our Chinese characters crooked and our spine not in a proper position.

Keep torso straight. Sitting on full chair and leaning backward should be avoided.    

Keep feet on the ground. Never cross legs and feet. Keep legs parallel and relaxed. The legs' postures and positions are as important as those of hands. Once the mind, body, and spirit are coordinated, one may feel energy or heat flowing at Bubble Wells “Yung Chuan Shei  湧泉穴 ” at the bottom of the feet. This will bring the mind to a higher level of awareness and artistic creativity. Mentally imagine (but not physically exert) that the toes are grabbing the ground lightly with the sole of feet hollow. Both heels and knees are forming two lines that are perpendicular to the ground. If our knees and toes are forming lines that are perpendicular to the ground, the energy flow through the knees is less and the ergonomics will be somewhat less optimal. We have to make all necessary postures natural even if they are “unnatural” to us at first. Remember to make both “natural” and “unnatural” natural and our progress will be promising.

Keep (not hold) the breath and concentrate during execution of each stroke. Breathing during writing each Chinese calligraphy stroke will interrupt our concentration. Unnecessary talking is a taboo. Then breath naturally between strokes or characters. Do not force breathing. When we reach a higher level, we will realize that like turning brush tips to tiny directions in each stroke, the breath can be controlled to synchronize the turning of brush tips. Hence, the mind, brush motion, and breath (energy) movement inside our body are coordinated in a way that they are working together in the same intention. This is somewhat an imaginary or metaphysical sense since it's in microscopic levels and nuances. Please don’t pretend it. This stage will come naturally and will be self-explaining only after we have practiced long enough. Remember it will come naturally.  

(人們常說練書法可修身養性、延年益壽。練習書法時，若能講究正確的姿勢與運筆等基本要領，不但能享受練習書法的樂趣與進步，亦更能發揮其”修身養性、延年益壽“的功效。書法是一種透過快慢緩急、輕重提按來協調大腦、神經、與肌肉的運動。運筆時須屏氣凝神、心靜如澄，配合肩膀、手腕、並周身協調的整體勁，才能筆劃沉穩、下筆有神。與太極拳、養生氣功講究意、氣、力結合，實有異曲同工之妙。若在運筆當中談話或閉氣，便不符合基本要領，寫出來的筆劃顫抖或氣力不足。所謂屏氣凝神，乃是“含氣以化蘊”，而非彆氣。中國傳統的說法裡有所謂的精、氣、神。在體內由五臟六腑所化蘊的菁華叫作精；氣則是由精轉變的一種能量；神就是透過氣提昇精神、心靈，而使人的精神意志進而非常清明旺盛。透過屏氣凝神，練書法可對腦波、脈搏、血壓有平衡的作用。掌握如何"含氣以化蘊"，並有恆心練習書法，研讀書法理論或相關課題，進而明瞭個中妙諦，便能德藝兼修、健身益壽。)  

Do not keep our buttocks outward. Keep torso straight and relax groins.

Coordinated movement flows from the center of the body outward. When swimmers kick, they generate power from their hips, not their toes. In piano playing, a pianist goes from the shoulder girdle to the fingertips. In most Chinese martial arts, the forces come from the hips and groins, not from the upper arms. Likewise, the principles are the same in practicing Chinese calligraphy.  

(Additional note: When we are writing Chinese calligraphy with our wrist resting on the desk, it will require more muscular strength from our wrist, palm, and fingers as most traditional Chinese calligraphers and textbooks assert. If we are using the Hanging Arm Technique, then it will require more strength from our shoulders and arms instead of only fingers and wrists. Furthermore, if we are utilizing our whole body and mind with the Hanging Arm Technique, metaphysically and ergonomically, our whole body is now the palm and wrist, our arms are the fingers... and the brush becomes a fine needle...)

Review the holding and operation of a brush.

Keep tip of the tongue slightly on top of upper teeth. This will help elevate our spirit.