After a wait of over three years we were delighted to re-start our Shōdo group at Kagyu Samye Dzong Tibetan Buddhist centre at the start of June. It was great to be back in the Woodlands area of Glasgow. It was a delightful group and… Read More »Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre
We began our Monday online calligraphy class on zoom with an introduction by Blair to each of his materials and tools uses, then we worked stroke practice and holding the fude for particular strokes. This time we brushed the four kanji characters of the zen… Read More »Finding balance and harmony in Shodo calligraphy
At our recent Zen Brush shodō class in April we brushed the two nature based kanji characters of the zen phrase Kūge 空華 . These are well known kanji and together can be translated variously as sky flowers, petals of emptiness, sky splendour. They were… Read More »Brushing sky flowers at Shodo calligraphy
Inspired by meditation and calligraphy itself, as well as the first signs of spring emerging, at the March meeting of Zen Brush Shodo calligraphy we brushed the three kanji characters of the zen phrase Hi Shi Ryo 非思量 which can be translated as something like… Read More »Hishiryo spacious thinking in zen and calligraphy
In February and March we ran a series of Japanese stamp making classes – called Tenkoku 篆刻 – in the Glasgow area of Scotland, kindly sponsored by The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, helping people discover the traditional Japanese stamp making process. These inspiring cultural groups… Read More »Tenkoku Japanese Stamp Making Events
Last month at Zen Brush Shodo calligraphy we brushed the four kanji characters of the inspiring zen phrase Shin Jin Ichi Nyo 身心一如 which can be translated as body and mind/spirit, oneness (from Zen master Dōgen’s Bendowa writing). This is about how our heart/mind/spirit and… Read More »Brushing oneness at Zen Shodo Calligraphy
At our de-stressing and relaxing drawing group we enjoyed an illuminating theme of returning light. That light of hope as the sun starts rising in the sky each day – changing the earth, skies and ourselves – as we move away from the darkness of… Read More »De-stress doodling the light of hope ✨
We enjoyed a delicious theme this month of お茶とお菓子 Ocha to okashi – Japanese tea and sweets – tempting our taste buds and investigating green tea culture, such as Sadō the Way of Tea. We will look at related kanji and commonly used vocabulary for… Read More »Japanese tea and sweets themed Kanji Club
In December 2022 and January 2023 Blair enjoyed a fascinating visit to Japan as part of a project kindly funded by the GB Sasakawa Foundation. He was fortunate to be able to meet Tenkoku Seal Engraving as well as as Zen masters and teachers and… Read More »Meeting Seal Engravers and Zen Teachers in Japan – exploring Tenkoku
We hope you are keeping cosy and well and settling down for the winter holidays. Here is our Season’s Greetings card, an aerial inspired one of Glasgow this year! Please see colourful images from our groups and community events below, it is great to look… Read More »Season’s Greetings ❄