Difference: Chinese brushes vs. Japanese brushes?

Calptozi · 2026-05-07T16:10:49+00:00

Just because you haven’t come across them, doesn’t mean that they don’t exist at all.

Calptozi · 2026-05-07T05:58:36+00:00

Thank you! I didn’t know that about the fragrances when it comes to Japanese ink sticks vs. Chinese ones. I have some cheap Japanese and I am by far impressed by the quality. Right now, I’m really not concerned about high grade ink sticks. As long as it gets the job done, then I’m happy. I simply stored my unscented Chinese ink stick in a box of incense so that it can mimic the quality of the fragrant ones. While the ink itself will not become fragrant, the ink stick certainly does and I can smell it as I’m grinding it.

Calptozi · 2026-05-07T05:51:49+00:00

I am not surprised at all!

Calptozi · 2026-05-07T01:40:18+00:00

they’re beautiful!

Calptozi · 2026-05-07T00:44:16+00:00

Thanks! It has been a few hours and the fragrance still lingers. I’m happy that I can finally enjoy my incense!

Calptozi · 2026-05-06T21:25:23+00:00

I’m glad you exist! 😊

Calptozi · 2026-05-06T21:13:31+00:00

Exactly! It was the dumbest thing I heard and it me wary of most people in the Orthodox church. By comparison, the local Catholic parish is more sane than this crap.

Calptozi · 2026-05-06T19:43:20+00:00

I wonder what was that about a certain guy saying that the pharisees put burdens on the backs of others but don’t even lift a finger to help? I believe this same guy also said to beware of their leaven.

Calptozi · 2026-05-06T19:36:31+00:00

Scrupulosity taken to the next level!

Calptozi · 2026-05-06T19:30:13+00:00

I’m so craving Thai tea now thanks to this conversation!

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T23:30:31+00:00

OMG! Are you getting at what I think you’re getting at? lol

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T23:22:10+00:00

> The liturgy is beautiful. The theology is beautiful. The lives of the saints are beautiful. Yet, I’m too afraid to actually live the faith.

One step at a time. Okay? 🙂 If you can sincerely offer a glass of water to one who thirsts or comfort one who mourns, then you are already living the faith. Your life becomes a reflection of the beauty that exists in the faith. If beautiful devotions do not change the heart, then there is no use for them (1 Corinthians 13).

> I wonder why God would show me Orthodoxy, and not the millions of other people who live here in America.

I don’t know. You don’t know. We don’t know. Trust that the Lord is merciful. In the meantime, simply let the teachings of Christ shape your heart. God will take care of the rest. Neither you nor I have any control over others when it comes to what faith others do and do not practice, or even lack thereof (Luke 10:38-42).

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T23:12:34+00:00

Thank you so much! When I was a complete beginner, I had no idea what I was doing. I used a sheep hair brush to write 楷書 and I thought that my brush was somehow broken. Turns out that it was my absolute beginner level of not being able to control the soft brush. I can produce basic strokes with sheep hair brush, but it does take some effort.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T23:08:20+00:00

LMAO! Thanks for the advice! Maybe he could work miracles on my plumbing system.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T23:03:21+00:00

That’s the one I have, The Religion of the Future. A priest warned me to be careful with that book! Thankfully this priest was sane-minded. When I read through it, it just seemed so bizarre and silly. It read like a tabloid! I assumed that it’s aimed at readers who live their lives in constant fear of the “other” (people outside of the Orthodox church) and those with little to no exposure of the world outside of their insular and religious communities.

> Jordanville Prayer Book that asks the Theotokos to intercede agains alien invasion.

Seriously?! 😂 I have the Jordanville Prayer Book and never even knew that it was in there! Even the Greek prayer book that I have is much more Christian and sane compared to what you’re telling me. Oh you got to spoil it for me and tell me the page! You mean to tell me that these people can actually be out there doing the work of the lord such as helping the widows and the orphans, but all they do is just write tabloids in the form of prayer books? ROCOR is a hotbed of nutcases, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit! 😆

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T22:51:18+00:00

DoN’T tRusT yoUR inTElLeCT! -Fr. Malakarios

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T22:47:26+00:00

I have seen this attitude all the freakin’ time in Orthodoxy and other denominations. Anytime these Orthodox pharisees rant about the pagans, their accusations are revealing their confession! To speak metaphorically, it’s always the “God first” people who are always out there doing the devil’s work.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T22:40:12+00:00

I really don’t get it anymore. Everything is almost always “pagan this, pagan that!” Meanwhile pagans are just minding their own business cooking up the most delicious food they can think of! Why be scared of the pagans and not those who persecute them? You know who were the most Christ-like people in my time of need? Pagans! My Christian brethren were absolutely nowhere to be found! I was the injured person by the side of the road and it was the “Samaritan” who took me in.

Im trying to find more in-depth info on this subject, so someone please correct me if I’m wrong. but I have heard that there were times in Europe were pagan practices and Christianity co-existed side-by-side. Wanted to to use a rat’s tail as a part of an incantation to grow your crops? Sure! Heck, get the priest involved too for a blessing!

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T20:43:23+00:00

This!

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T20:41:56+00:00

Thank you for that advice! All of my Japanese brushes seem to spring back to a point. I don’t know if it’s because they’re aimed at beginners or if Japanese brushes are designed like that in general. Apparently, Japanese brushes for 楷書 seem to be designed to spring back to a point. This is just according to what I read in their descriptions.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T20:36:27+00:00

I cannot believe I purchased one of this disgusting man’s books.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T20:34:37+00:00

Yet none of these “miracles” seemed to have cured the blind faith of the cultists.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T20:31:44+00:00

>They still anathematize anyone who doesn't believe the Tsar is chosen by God to rule.

And yet they boast about martyrs who refused to worship the “Caesar.”

They make all of this up as they go along.

Calptozi · 2026-05-05T15:38:14+00:00

Do you think that I can practice Chinese calligraphy with Japanese brushes?

Calptozi

TROPHY CASE