In the ninth year of the Yonghe era (永和九年, pinyin: Yǒnghé, 345 – 357 C.E.), the year of the Yin Water Ox, under the reign of Emperor Mu of Jin (晉穆帝, pinyin Jìn Mùdì, 343 – 361C.E.), at the beginning of the third lunar month (after April 20, 353 C.E.), on the first day of the month of the serpent, fourty two literati noblemen gathered at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin County (山陰，pinyin: Shānyīn), in order to celebrate the Spring Purification Festival (修禊, pinyin: xiūxì). One of them was Wang … [Read more...]
Rinsho – the magical ink time machine. Part II
East Asian calligraphy is a very peculiar art; a life-long journey during which we learn its strict rules only to suspend them in the act of using the brush in order to write freely. Alas, without the daily practice of rinsho (臨書, りんしょ, i.e. “copying [studying] masterpieces”) all of our efforts would be in vain. Throughout years of study I have come across many ancient classics (古典, こてん, koten) and written them repetitively. Saving one’s own work from the past is invaluable, as it allows … [Read more...]
Rinsho – The Magical Ink Time Machine. Part I
The most difficult thing for a Westerner to comprehend is how many years of diligent study of East Asian calligraphy it takes to be able to mesmerize viewers with only a few brush strokes executed within seconds. It seems so easy and effortless when a brush is swung by the rich mind of an old master. Unfortunately, not many people, including even some calligraphers, realize that those studies are based upon in-depth research of the masterpieces of ancient Masters. How often does my teacher … [Read more...]