Inspired by nature and 禅林 Zenrin Calligraphy (Zen calligraphy), we brushed Moving Clouds Kōun 行雲 from the Zen phrase Moving clouds, flowing water 行雲流水 ✨ Blair talked a little about the origins, visual background and structure of these two common kanji characters before we began working with the sumi ink and fude brushes.
After Blair’s intro to the materials and demonstration, we did some kaisho stroke practice and then brushed both the 楷書 kaisho standard script and the 草書sōsho fully cursive style, working from Blair’s otehon examples of Kōun 行雲. We looked at the styles of his teacher’s grandfather Matsumoto Hōsui Sensei (1893-1971), and were guided by Blair’s demonstrations of these styles.
Then we brought in our individual rakkan 落款 signature with our names in Japanese, which Blair gave to each participant to write on their calligraphy. After the groups we shared his video of the two styles of brushwork for Moving Clouds.
And he introduced a larger hansetsu sized piece he has been working on in cursive sōsho in three columns, from the characters of a spring poem by 9th century poet Bai Juyi 白楽天 (well known in Japan as Hakurakuten):
春 風 先 發 苑 中 梅 。
The spring breeze is the first to blow, among the plum blossoms in the garden.
櫻 杏 桃 梨 次 第 開 。
Sakura, Apricot, Peach, and Pear, opening one by one.
薺 花 榆 莢 深 村 裏 。
Shepherd’s purse and elm nuts are (sprouting) behind the village.
亦 道 春 風 爲 我 來 。
Looking at it all, it’s as if this spring breeze has appeared for me.
Thanks for taking part and for your enthusiasm to practice shodō with us at the peaceful Woodside library.
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