Joy. Strength. Faith. Beauty. Form. Decorum. Each of these concepts, and more can be contained within just a single Japanese kanji character. Japanese calligraphy, or ‘shodo’, is more than just the art of writing beautifully, it is a philosophical and meditative practice, a gift for the mind and eyes, deeply woven into the fabric of the Japanese ascetic.
What became shodo seen today was invented in China 5,000 years ago and was introduced to Japan around 600 A.D. along with the methods of making brushes and ink, however the original practice of writing characters as an art form has its origins in Zen Buddhism. The idea is to express a Zen precept, emotion or idea as briefly and gracefully as possible. A simple brush and ink offer no second chances, so to ensure mastery of form and grace of movement when writing, Zen Buddhists seek a clear or empty state of mind, which the Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro coined ‘mushin' [無心 "no mind”]
‘Mushin’ allows the characters to flow out of themselves avoiding excessive effort or concentration.
Outside of Zen Buddhist Temples and calligraphy schools, the government of Japan and many temples throughout the country used shodo to record events, laws and other important documents from about the 8th century onwards. In fact, the oldest existing calligraphic text in Japan is found here in Nara; the inscription on the halo of the Medicine Buddha statue in Horyu-ji Temple. Today, shodo is taught at schools in Japan to instruct children in good penmanship. It remains a popular activity among the youth of Japan, evermore so with the advent of performance calligraphy. Every New Year, people throughout Japan (children and adults alike) participate in a practice called, “Kakizome,” the first writing, in which they write down their hopes and wishes for the upcoming year. Many traditional events may also begin with or contain a function where shodo is used to welcome guests and express the organisers' intentions.
Free Shodo Class
Shodo may appear daunting at first but it’s easier and more relaxing than a first time participant might anticipate. Every Monday afternoon at the Nara Visitor Center & Inn, from 2pm - 4pm a professional shodo instructor and our friendly English speaking staff will teach you the basics of writing with Japanese fude brushes and sumi ink. Choose the kanji character appropriate to you and your life and then write yourself forth into the calm clarity of Japanese calligraphy. Watch the video below of Kira and Olivia talk about their shodo experience at the center.
Comments