Skip to content

Shodo calligraphy

Practicing Writing Shodō in Regular and Cursive Styles

Practicing Writing Shodō 書道 in Regular and Cursive Styles

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

Welcoming spring with lively Shodō brushing!

Welcoming spring with lively Shodō brushing!

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!

Bristol University Japanese Calligraphy Workshop

Bristol University Japanese Calligraphy Workshop

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

Meditative Shodō calligraphy - Zazen

Meditative Shodō calligraphy – Zazen

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

Brushing the Way of Enlightenment

Brushing the Way of Enlightenment

At the end of last month and start of March we brushed the illuminating kanji characters of the word Godō 悟道 , meaning the way or path of satori/ enlightenment. It was great catching up with everyone at the monthly Shodō Japanese calligraphy groups in… Read More »Brushing the Way of Enlightenment

Celebrating life with the shodō brush

Celebrating life with the shodō brush

At the end of January and start of February we ran two sessions, our monthly group at KSD centre and the other a special group for students in the west end of Glasgow. One of the phrases we brushed was 福寿 Fukuju – which can… Read More »Celebrating life with the shodō brush

The ladder for kami in Yin and Yang calligraphy

The ladder for kami in Yin and Yang calligraphy

🍂 Thanks for taking part in our last Japanese Shodō calligraphy groups of the year at Kagyu Samye Dzong Glasgow, as well as online Zen Brush in November. We brushed the mysterious kanji characters of the word Inyō 陰陽, better known in Chinese as the opposite… Read More »The ladder for kami in Yin and Yang calligraphy

Calligraphy of Kōmyō 光明 radiant light

Calligraphy of Kōmyō 光明 radiant light

At the October Zen Brush Shodō calligraphy we worked on the illuminating kanji characters of the word Kōmyō 光明 – meaning luminous light, or spiritual brightness. It is a fluid word to write, with two light filled pictograms – first of a person holding up… Read More »Calligraphy of Kōmyō 光明 radiant light

The way of the Universe in Zen Calligraphy

The way of the Universe in Zen Calligraphy

In September at Zen Brush Shodo calligraphy, as we moved into Autumn, we brushed the dynamic two kanji characters of the word Shinnyo 真如 – meaning tathata or the true thusness or reality of things and the universe. They are lovely characters to brush, and… Read More »The way of the Universe in Zen Calligraphy

Brushing Anraku - with Ease and Enjoyment

Brushing Anraku – with Ease and Enjoyment

We had a lovely morning of Shōdo calligraphy at Kagyu Samye Dzong on Saturday 2nd September, with an enthusiastic group keen to try out the styles and materials 😊 We brushed 安楽 anraku – peace and joy or ease and comfort – a word that… Read More »Brushing Anraku – with Ease and Enjoyment