Back in kindergarten and primary school,
children would spend an entire lesson learning the correct way to hold a pen.
The proper posture is:
the pen rests diagonally between the proximal index finger and distal middle finger,
while the thumb stabilizes the pen shaft.
The palm should remain slightly hollow — about the size of a small egg.
At the same time, the wrist is relaxed, the shoulders loosened, and the elbows naturally lowered.
With proper pen posture,
the body naturally sits upright,
and the spine stays straight and aligned.
Today, however, many children hold pens in all sorts of incorrect ways:
❌ Wrists stiff and overly extended
❌ Elbows pressed heavily onto the desk
❌ The book turned 90 degrees away from the body
❌ Some even rest their chin directly on the table while writing
Over time, these habits may contribute to:
• scoliosis
• rounded shoulders
• neck discomfort
• lower back strain
In the 1960s and 70s, many students were required to learn calligraphy.
If the brush was held too lightly, the strokes would float.
If held too tightly, the writing became stiff and inflexible.
Some teachers would suddenly pull the brush away.
If it slipped out too easily, the next sound might be a wooden ruler snapping onto the desk —
a reminder that the grip was too loose.
To write good calligraphy,
the body must be upright,
the shoulders relaxed,
and the neck gently lifted,
almost like a subtle “head suspended from above.”
What is written are words,
but what is trained is the heart,
and what is cultivated is the body and character.
A person should also live upright —
honest, open-hearted, and dignified.
— Quotation from Physician Wang Qi
#MedicalWisdom #InnerPeaceComesFromIntegrity
China
