Continuing the story of the Hankeido (桂堂攀, はんけいどう, Hankeidō) workshop, the construction of maki fude (巻筆, まきふで) is most unusual. The first 3rd of the root of the tuft is wrapped and strengthened with a hand-made Japanese hemp paper, also known as washi (和紙, わし). Thus, the name maki (to wrap) fude (brush). Because of…
Read MoreThe name chosen by Konoe Iehiro was Hankeidou, which literally means “climbing the wisteria tree”. According to an old Chinese legend, a wisteria tree (桂) grew on the moon,
Read More明治42年、十三世雲平は東京に攀 桂堂 を移し、松方正義(まつかたまさよし)翁、大倉喜八郎翁、書家の比田井天来・小琴ご夫婦、岡山高陰(おかやまたかかげ)などの諸先生方に筆のご用を賜る。
Read MoreThe Hairy Thugs gang was founded long ago, back in early 30’s. As you can see in the historical photo, the captured brothers Hai Sum Bai and Lo Sum Bai
Read MoreIt is my great hope that the trade of brush making will continue and thrive, and that this old and nearly forgotten tradition will find its followers in the future.
Read MoreWhile playing, I realised how closely Skyrim is related to calligraphy. It is a world of its own defined by Yin (陰, yīn) and Yang (陽, yang). The way in which
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