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
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 last Shodō workshops before the summer break, we enjoyed some relaxed yet inspiring brushing and our inspiration was calligraphy itself! We brushed the kanji characters of the word Shodō 書道, meaning the Way of Calligraphy or Path of Writing, or simply Japanese calligraphy,… Read More »Practicing Writing Shodō 書道 in Regular and Cursive Styles
At both our online and in person Shodō groups, which have been buzzing in recent months, we brushed the two kanji characters of the word Shunjū 春秋 . Shunjū means Spring and Autumn, or the seasons more generally, or the length of time passing. There… Read More »Welcoming spring with lively Shodō brushing!
In the Arts Complex of Bristol University at the end of April, Blair presented two taster Japanese Shodō calligraphy workshops with a Zen theme, for the Buddhist Studies Day in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, with schools and staff participating. This was part of… Read More »Bristol University Japanese Calligraphy Workshop
We had energetic and fun Shodō groups at KSD in Glasgow, as well at Zen Brush (online), brushing the two kanji characters of the word Zazen 座禅, meaning zen seated meditation. The za means sitting and the zen has meanings including meditation and awareness. Everyone… Read More »Meditative Shodō calligraphy – Zazen