Is there any difference between Japanese and Chinese calligraphy brushes and ink?

Question:

Also, why is it advised to use dry ink instead of bottled ink (liquid)?

Answer:

I believe that there are slight differences, but nothing a novice would notice. I use both Chinese and Japanese brushes. Bottled ink has more glue in it and so it will tend to clog up the inkstone, but if you use dry ink, it takes over an hour to prepare the ink before you start (they say it calms the spirit to do so). At the school I attend nearly everybody uses bottled ink.