cai shu

Cai shu, also known as "pluck" or "cut and dry," is a traditional Chinese practice involving selecting or removing specific characters or words from a piece of text, often for artistic or symbolic reasons. Historically used in calligraphy or poetry, it reflects careful choice and arrangement of characters to convey meaning or aesthetic beauty. The process emphasizes precision and intention in the manipulation of language, demonstrating mastery in Chinese literary and artistic traditions. Essentially, cai shu is about thoughtfully "cutting out" or emphasizing certain parts of a text to enhance its expression or visual harmony.