Japanese calligraphy is defined by two major styles. One of them is known as karayou shodou (唐様書道, からようしょどう, karayō shodō, lit. “Tang dynasty style calligraphy”), the other is wayou shodou (和様書道, わようしょどう, wayō shodō, i.e. “Japanese style calligraphy”). To read about both in greater detail, please refer to the History of Japanese Calligraphy section on our main page, here. Japanese calligraphy was dominated by the Tang dynasty (唐朝, Chinese: Táng cháo, 618 – 907 C.E.) style for many years. … [Read more...]
When the Mind Soars, the Brush Dances: calligraphy research meetings
East Asian calligraphy flourishes in the absence of pride, goals or competitive desires. Its mastery comes from the negation of the material and the appreciation of the ethereal. It is a good feeling when one is rewarded for his or her efforts or achievements, but we need to remember to maintain a healthy distance from such distortions of purpose. If we do not, the path will become blurry, and eventually we will find ourselves lost. Those of us who choose the path of Sho (書, しょ, … [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...]