Shodo is the art of painting characters with a brush and ink to express spiritual depth and beauty. Although shodo is technically an execution of both Chinese and Japanese writing, it is essentially an appreciation of the dynamic movements of a living line, independent of the meaning of the character. Brushstrokes are conceived of in structural and dynamic terms and are infused with ki (chi), or creative vital energy. Through the flowing dance of the brushstrokes, the artist can express their spirit, ideas, and insight.