In this work, a vector quantization-based (VQ-based) watermark embedding method for binary calligraphy images is proposed in order to achieve copyright protection. Our method does not allow watermark bits to be embedded in the smooth regions of the image, so the visual effect of the image is maintained. Rather, complex regions are used to embed watermark bits. In the watermark embedding phase, the complex regions are modified according to similar codewords and the embedded watermark bits. The modification rule indicated that our method did not distort the images significantly. Moreover, the experimental results indicated that our method can resist some image processing attacks, e.g., salt and pepper noise, image cropping, and image blurring.