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Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre

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.

Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre
Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre

It was a delightful group and lovely people taking part, and such a peaceful and nurturing space to be in for shōdo practice. The class ran from 11am to 12pm in the Garden Room, and we intend to run this monthly from September on the first Saturday each month. All materials were included so participants could discover the traditional tools from fude brushes to suzuri inkwells and felt shitajiki mats.

Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre

After settling in with a cuppa (including some genmai matcha green tea) and a short intro by Blair to Shōdo calligraphy and his experience of it in Japan, we spent some time on getting used to the brushes and ink, as well as stroke practice and order, and working on characters including kaze 風 wind/ air/ manner, working on the key kaisho standard, gyosho semi cursive and sosho fully cursive styles, so participants could understand the relationship between the styles and development of the kanji.

Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre

Thanks to those who participated and everyone else who gave their enthusiastic support to the group. This class will complement our existing monthly Zoom shōdo ‘Zen Brush’ group which will continue online.  Our next calligraphy group at KSD is on Saturday 2nd September, see you then!

Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre
Shodo Calligraphy returns to the Tibetan Buddhist Centre