expression
grind your inkstick gently but move your brush vigorously
Proverb advising that in calligraphy, one should grind the inkstick with a light, gentle touch (like a hungry ghost, weak and delicate) but wield the brush with bold, vigorous strokes (like an ogre, strong and forceful). The literal gloss is provided for cultural reference.
書道の先生が「墨は餓鬼に磨らせ、筆は鬼に持たせよ」と言って、筆の持ち方を教えてくれた。
My calligraphy teacher taught me how to hold the brush, saying, 'Grind your inkstick gently but move your brush vigorously.'
A traditional Japanese calligraphy proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it uses the contrasting images of a hungry ghost (餓鬼, weak and delicate) and an ogre (鬼, strong and forceful) to illustrate the ideal balance of gentleness and vigor in brushwork.