1.2 Brush introduction

Stiff brush. Opened soft brush now.  

If you have chosen to use a traditional calligraphy brush, you'll need to "open" it. This kind of brush is stiffened to keep the paste diluted with pointed hairs while it is transported and sold. Hold it in a thin trickle of water and gently massage the fibers until most of the point is softened.  

Re-shaped brush.  

Once you have opened your brush, you must keep it clean by rinsing it in water after each daily use, shaping the fiber, and hanging it up by the loop on the handle so it will dry in a point again.