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Brushing mountains and waters at Shodo Japanese calligraphy

At Zen Brush in November we brushed three kanji characters, each repeated twice with different versions, in the monumental zen phrase Yama wa kore yama mizu wa kore mizu 山是山水是水 which can be translated as mountains are mountains, waters are waters (from Zen master Dōgen’s Mountains and Waters Sutra). This is about the wondrous world and nature expressing the way of things, the body and Zen meditation ⛰️

Brushing mountains and waters at Shodo Japanese calligraphy

Here is the quote Blair read by Master Dogen from the Sansuikyo Mountains and Waters Sutra

‘Although we say that the mountains belong to the country, actually they belong to those who love them.’

Brushing mountains and waters at Shodo Japanese calligraphy

We brushed them together in three styles (kaisho, reisho, sōsho), enjoying the differences, from quirky and weighty to fluid and airy✨

Thanks to everyone for taking part and those who shared work 😀

Ken