If we understand it in terms of pens, there is calligraphy that does not require a pen, finger calligraphy, and beard calligraphy. But strictly speaking, there are only these two.
Hard-pen calligraphy has fewer changes, while brush calligraphy has many variations, but there are many kinds of hard-pens, not just fountain pens, even stones can be used as pens. In fact, there is no higher or lower realm between the two. It depends on who writes it.
For example, someone asks who is more powerful, Taekwondo or Chinese Kung Fu. They are equally powerful, but people who learn martial arts are different in strength. People who practice Taekwondo well can defeat those who practice Chinese Kung Fu, and vice versa. .
In summary, they are all expressions of calligraphy, so why are they higher or lower?