The annual exhibition of the esteemed Hankeido (攀桂堂, はんけいどう, Hankeidō) Workshop, renowned for manufacturing traditional Japanese brushes known generally as unpei fude (雲平筆, うんぺいふで), was held recently at Takashimaya Nihon-bashi in Tokyo. Under the guidance of esteemed Master Jūgosei Unpei (十五世雲平), the owner of Hankeidou Workshop (攀桂堂), and his son Fujino Unpei (藤野雲平, ふじの うんぺい), Fujino Junichi (藤野純一, ふじのじゅんいち), with a history dating from the Shoutoku Era (1711 – 1716), Hankeido … [Read more...]
Întâlnirile mele cu pensulele: Partea I
Original English can be found here. Am visat la Japonia cu mulţi ani înainte de a fi păşit pe pământul ei, din perioada când eram la facultate şi studiam ceramica şi pictura; eram atunci fascinată de pergamentele japoneze, de formele esenţiale în alb şi negru, de o frumuseţe misterioasă, lăsate de pensule pe suprafeţe tactile, montate apoi şi atârnate în sălile luminate blând ale muzeelor. Imaginându-mi Japonia prin intermediul cărţilor şi obiectelor, visam să studiez caligrafia în cadrul … [Read more...]
Climbing the Moon Tree, Part 2.
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 this, the hairs of the brush tip (the “spear”) have unusual flexibility and are extremely responsive. The brush’s loins are very stiff, and the relatively short hairs of the brush … [Read more...]