Shodo: The Art of Japanese Calligraphy

[Aepsilons]

this one is Japanese, by 雪舟, Sesshu Toyo. beautiful art.

Japanese painting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The name of this is Shu tou sansui-zu

 

[Speeder 2]

The Japanese calligraphy (Shodo) is one of the most popular fine arts of Japan. Calligraphical works are appreciated not less than products of painting. But this kind of the fine arts possesses also philosophical sense. In the simplest understanding the calligraphy is an art to write beautifully. The master creates a work of art by bamboo brush and inks on the rice paper. It transfers harmony and beauty. The parity of simple and graceful is embodied in calligraphical works as one of main principles of Japanese aesthetics wabi sabi.

There is nothing casual in Japanese calligraphy. The beginning, the direction, the form and the ending of lines, the balance between elements are important for each line and point, and even the empty space testifies about many things.

The hieroglyphs are harmonious, proportional, balanced.

Hieroglyphs of happiness

The Japanese calligraphy is not only the beauty, but also the sense more complex frequently, than value of written by brush hieroglyph. Harmony and elegance of lines create not only aesthetic pleasure but transfer also thousand-year wisdom. Each line is meaningful; each movement of calligrapher’s brush creates something fine. East inhabitants trust that the hieroglyph has also sacral value because the letter in the East is considered as the epistle of the Heavens that’s why the calligraphical sign bears the power charge in it. Considering calligraphical work think about success, light, loved, pleasure, creativity, about everything that does you happy and the happiness will fill your life.

The Japanese calligraphy is one Zen practice same as art of tea ceremony, ikebana, Japanese fencing on swords (kendo) and other fighting arts (budо). Traditional ways of calligraphical symbols transfer are laconic: they are written on a white paper which personifies emptiness in Zen philosophy, and black signs on a white background seams concepts of Yin and Yang as female and man's origins.

There is a way of calligraphy, a way of writing Shodo where Sho means the calligraphy, do means the way. It is also one of ways leading to comprehension of life’s meaning and eternal trues, also as well as the Way of the Warrior (Busido), the Way of Fighting Art - Budo (Karate-do, Judo, Kendo), the Way of Tea (Chado) and other ways. The calligraphy is the integral attribute of tea ceremony. The masters of tea ceremony study calligraphy not less carefully and long as tea action. Outstanding masters of fighting arts wrote by the brush the hieroglyphs in which force of the master is felt. The calligraphy was studied by Japanese aristocrats and Samurais.

Now meet the Spiritual Grandpa of real Calligraphy:

 

[Aepsilons]

Philosophical - Theological Painting,

The Wind God and Thunder God, by Tarawaya Sotatsu.

Now meet the Spiritual Grandpa of real Calligraphy:

View attachment 243256

Chusugoi!

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Gyokusen-Jō (玉泉帖), calligraphy attributed to Ono no Michikaze (小野道風 894 – 966), mixture of calligraphy scripts, first half of the 10th century.

A copy of Sarashina Nikki (更級日記) by Fujiwara no Teika (藤原定家, 1162 – 1241) in Japanese kana script. Original text by Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真, 845 – 903), scholar, poet and a calligrapher of the Heian period.

“Do no evil, do good” (諸悪莫作 衆善奉行), Zen calligraphy in cursive script (草書) by Ikkyū Sōjun (一休宗純　ｖ, 1394–1481).

 

[Speeder 2]

 

[Aepsilons]

View attachment 243257

Tang Imperial Calligraphy is a favorite in Japanese Classics. Tang Imperial Classics remains a reference point, so to say.

“Lament for nephiew Zhai” (祭姪文稿), an extremely emotional calligraphy by Yan Zhenqing (顏真卿) in semi-cursive script (行書), Tang dynasty (唐朝, 618 – 907 C.E.), 8th century C.E., ink on paper.


@Yizhi

 

[prima99]

some of our folks learning Shodo in Surabaya

Indonesian students learn Shodo Japanese Calligraphy in Surabaya | Demotix.com

Shodo Workshop event in Indonesia with Ex-SDN48 member, Nachu

Workshop Kaligrafi Jepang (Shodo) bersama Nachu (Ex- SDN48) dari Jepang

 

[Speeder 2]

Tang Imperial Calligraphy is a favorite in Japanese Classics. Tang Imperial Classics remains a reference point, so to say.

“Lament for nephiew Zhai” (祭姪文稿), an extremely emotional calligraphy by Yan Zhenqing (顏真卿) in semi-cursive script (行書), Tang dynasty (唐朝, 618 – 907 C.E.), 8th century C.E., ink on paper.


@Yizhi

From my limited understanding, the particular piece that I posted has been regarded as kinda of "Holy Grail" of calligraphy of all time, from Wang Xizhi (王羲之, 303–361), Wang Xizhi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[zeronet]

From my limited understanding, the particular piece that I posted has been regarded as kinda of "Holy Grail" of calligraphy of all time, from Wang Xizhi (王羲之, 303–361), Wang Xizhi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The one you posted is one of the 5 copies of original 兰亭集序 (Orchid Pavilion Gathering), all of 5 copies were created by four persons (also big names in the history of calligraphy) in Tang Dynasty after 300 yrs Wang Xizhi died. 3 copies including the one by 馮承素 that you posted, now are kept in Beijing Forbidden City, the other 2 are kept in Tapei's National Palace Museum. 馮承素's version is widely considered as the closest version to Wang Xizhi's original copy.

The very original copy by the Sage of Calligraphy more than 1700 yrs ago, the paramount masterpiece in the history of calligraphy, was collected by Emperor Taizong of Tang, and then Empress of Tang Wu Zetian. After the Empress died 1300 yrs ago, the original copy disappeared. People guessed that the Empress, herself also a master of calligraphy, just took the original copy into her tomb, which is Qianling Mausoleum (乾陵) located in Xi'An. This was proved by the historical record of Empress orders. Becuase Qianling has been untouched and keeping intact since it was built, we can still dream that someday in the future the great art will show its splendor again.

It is highly possible this is where the original "Orchid Pavilion Gathering" located right now:

 

[Aepsilons]

One of the replicas of the Tempyō fude (天平筆) ordered by the Imperial Agency in 753 C.E.

Calligraphy written with maki fude by the Prime Minister Matsukata Masayoshi (松方 正義, 1835 – 1924).

A calligraphy work of Grand Master Hidai Tenrai (比田井天来, 1872 – 1939), written with maki fude.

A letter written with maki fude received by Hankeidō from the Arisugawa-no-Miya (有栖川宮) family in 17th century.

 

[Yizhi]

Tang Imperial Calligraphy is a favorite in Japanese Classics. Tang Imperial Classics remains a reference point, so to say.

“Lament for nephiew Zhai” (祭姪文稿), an extremely emotional calligraphy by Yan Zhenqing (顏真卿) in semi-cursive script (行書), Tang dynasty (唐朝, 618 – 907 C.E.), 8th century C.E., ink on paper.


@Yizhi

Japanese particularly like his work?

i used to practice 顏體 Yan Style a lot back as a kid.

Yan Qingli Stele (顏勤禮碑)

 

[opruh]

Good to see China's influence in Japan.