As we moved into Spring at our monthly shodō groups, we worked on a classic character and practiced its strokes and styles. We brushed 永 ei, meaning eternal, which has been written for centuries for its balance of eight strokes central to learning calligraphy, known… Read More »Brushing 永字八法 The Eight Principles of Eternal
In February we led two workshops introducing and exploring Haiga 俳画 a harmony of Japanese painting, and haiku poetry brushed in calligraphy. These events were held in the Glasgow area of Scotland, and were kindly sponsored by The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, allowing participants to… Read More »Haiga Events: a Harmony of Japanese Painting and Haiku Poetry
Inspired by Edo period Zen monk Hakuin Zenji’s writing and natural imagery, at our monthly shodō calligraphy online group and relaxed in person meeting at KSD Glasgow we wrote 風清 kaze kiyoshi, pure wind, following the words 月白, (bright) white moon. It was a nice… Read More »Brushing Hakuin’s vision in shodō calligraphy
At our recent shodō groups in person and online we brushed the striking kanji characters Tsuki shiro 月白 (つきしろ)🌙, meaning bright white moon, from a commentary by Zen master Hakuin Zenji written in 1749. This is part of a longer phrase ‘white moon pure wind’… Read More »The white moon of Hakuin in varied shodō styles
We hope you are keeping cosy and looking forward to the winter break. Here is our Season’s Greetings card, a sketch of rock strata made on the spot at Oshima Island, south of Tokyo, using brush pens and sketchbook. Please have a peek at some… Read More »Season’s Greetings
Towards the end of Autumn at shodō calligraphy we brushed the nature inspired and seasonal Aki no sora 秋の空 (あきのそら), meaning Autumn sky 🍂 We practiced the two kanji characters with the Japanese kana の in between, writing them in two vertical columns for the… Read More »Brushing 秋の空 Autumn Sky
As golden leaves fell in the Woodlands area of Glasgow, our first afternoon Shodō group at KSD was likewise inspired by the ochre earth and expansive heavens, brushing from the magnificent Thousand Character Classic Senjimon 千字文. The afternoon was enjoyable, immersive and educational, split into… Read More »An Autumnal Afternoon Exploring Shodō Classics
Moving into autumn we had a theme of empathy with the heartful Zen phrase dōji 同事 (どうじ), which has a meaning of thinking about others, and their heart. As a common Japanese word it simply means ‘the same’ ✨ In the kaisho style the two… Read More »Heartful Zen Calligraphy for Autumn
After the summer break our Saturday morning class in Glasgow and our online Monday evening group met to relaxingly ease back into shodo calligraphy practice. Brushing the single character for dew or open air, Tsuyu 露, which in Zen writings has also had a meaning… Read More »Calligraphic simplicity brushing tsuyu 露
At our June Japanese Tenkoku stamp making workshop we had a lively group of enthusiastic carvers and busy stampers! This was a full afternoon session creating unique seals from scratch – forgive the Tenkoku pun! Everyone was able to cover the essential techniques of this… Read More »Natural Inspiration and Bold Tenkoku Seal Engravings