Traditional Japanese calligraphy ink, referred to as sumi ink ... and even longer for the most expensive ones. A 200-gram high-grade ink stick from a producer like Kobaien costs over $1,000.

More from So Expensive Calligraphy inkstones, especially elaborately designed ones, can cost over $5,000. While the traditional practice of using an ink stick and inkstone is less common now that ...

In addition the modern calligraphy utilizes not only the traditional black ink, but may include a variety of colors normally seen in western painting. Instead of using the "Modern Calligraphy" some ...