Joy. Strength. Faith. Beauty. Form. Decorum.
Each of these concepts, and more, can be expressed by a single Japanese kanji character. Which is why Shodo Japanese Calligraphy is more than just the art of writing beautifully. It’s a philosophical and meditative practice deeply woven into the fabric of Japanese aesthetics.
Here at NARA Visitor Center & Inn, we offer our guests a free Japanese calligraphy experience as part of our cultural program. More on that later, but first, let's look at the cultural and historical roots of Japanese calligraphy.
The practice of shodo as an art form, has its origins in Zen Buddhism. The idea in Zen is to express an emotion or idea as succinctly and gracefully as possible. A simple stroke of an inked brush offers no second chances. Therefore, to ensure mastery of form and grace of movement, Zen Monks and practitioners sought a clear or empty state of mind.
This is what the Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro coined ‘mushin' [無心 or ’no mind’]. Mushin facilitates the spontaneous flow of characters, avoiding unnatural or forced effort and concentration.
The Early Roots of Shodo Japanese Calligraphy
In the early 5th century, Japan was seen as a land lacking a literary tradition. However, the introduction of Buddhism marked a turning point with the need to transcribe Buddhist sutras or texts. Later, Prince Shōtoku Taishi, advocated for the transcription of sutras as a meditative practice, thereby deepening the shodo’s spiritual and cultural significance.
During the Heian Period (794-1185), under the influence of pioneers like Ono-no-Michikaze and the monk Kukai, there was a distinct departure from Chinese styles. This era saw the birth of more fluid and rounded scripts, eventually leading to the development of kana characters.
The following Kamakura Period introduced bokuseki, a writing style characterized by its liberal and emotive expression, starkly contrasting with the rigid forms of its predecessors. From about the 8th century onwards, the government and many temples throughout the country used shodo to record events, laws, and to compile important documents. In fact, the oldest existing calligraphic text in Japan is found here in Nara; the inscription on the halo of the Medicine Buddha statue in Horyu-ji Temple.
Shodo Japanese Calligraphy into The Modern Era
Since the Edo Period (1603-1868), shodo has been a staple of education in Japan, also taught in the temple schools known as terakoya. Remarkably, during the 18th century, Japan achieved one of the highest literacy rates globally, a testament to shodo’s integral role in education.
As Japan ended its period of isolation in the mid-19th century, shodo experienced a renaissance. During this period, artists began to view calligraphy not just as a form of writing, but as a means of personal expression akin to Western painting.
Today, shodo remains a vibrant part of Japanese culture, celebrated for its aesthetic appeal and deep-rooted philosophical values. It is taught in schools to foster good penmanship, and remains a popular activity among the youth. Many households maintain their own calligraphy sets, reflecting shodo's role in daily life and as a conduit of Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
Every New Year, adults and children alike participate in a practice called kakizome, or first writing, where they write down their hopes and wishes for the coming year. Many popular events also use shodo as a way to welcome guests or express the host’s intentions.
Different Types of Calligraphy
Shodo boasts a variety of styles, each reflecting different historical and aesthetic sensibilities:
Kaisho: Often the first style learned by novices. Kaisho is direct and clear, mirroring the precise form of the original kanji. It is the most accessible style for its readability and structured form.
Gyōsho: A semi-cursive style known as ‘travel writing’, gyōsho departs from the rigidity of kaisho with strokes that blend into one another with a more fluid and artistic expression.
Sōsho: Known as ‘grass writing’, sōsho is the most abstract and challenging style, prized for its aesthetic qualities over legibility. Its swift, flowing strokes emphasize artistic expression and are often difficult for those unfamiliar with shodo to decipher.
Shodo Tools and Materials
A master calligrapher may use many tools in their work, but several items are common across nearly all styles of shodo:
Fude (brush) – A long, usually wooden-handled brush tipped with horse, sheet, goat, raccoon, or weasel hair.
Sumi (ink) – Black ink made from charcoal soot and glue, usually compressed into an ink stick and ground with water.
Hanshi (paper) – Thin, absorbent Japanese washi paper designed for calligraphy.
Suzuri (ink stone) – A fine stone with a depression in which the ink is ground.
Shitajiki (underlay) – A thin wool sheet that evens the pressure on the paper and protects the table beneath.
Bunchin (paperweight) – One or two wide paperweights used to keep the paper flat and steady.
Our Free Shodo Experience
Shodo may appear daunting at first, but it’s easier and more relaxing than you might think.
If you are ever in Nara, please drop by our center and our staff will show you how to write your name in Japanese. You can even write your name shodo-style with a calligraphy brush!
My Name In Kanji
If you can't make it to our center, but would still like to see what your name looks like in kanji characters, don’t worry! We will expertly handwrite your name in kanji and email it to you as a JPEG, and with an explanation of the meaning. We have provided this free service to thousands of people over the past few years and we cant wait to add you to the list of satisfied customers.
Click here to jump to the My Name in Kanji page.
Thank you for reading Shodo Japanese Calligraphy
Author: NARA Visitor Center & Inn
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