It was relaxing brushing the seasonal phrase Shoka 初夏 – early summer – with the participants of the June Zen Brush group on Zoom. It was an easygoing group for our last session before the summer break. At the end we wished we had a… Read More »Early Summer Shodō calligraphy
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
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
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… Read More »Brushing mountains and waters at Shodo Japanese calligraphy
We brushed the two kanji characters in the inspiring zen phrase Dōtoku 道得 (lterally way/express ; grasp/pick up/able to) which can be translated as expressing the way, expressing truth, or picking up the way. Blair discussed their Zen meanings and connection to calligraphic expression in… Read More »Expressing the Way in Shodo Japanese Calligraphy