The Art and Mindset of Copying Ancient Calligraphy — The Royal Road to Mastering Kana Calligraphy

Introduction: Why Study Ancient Calligraphy?

For anyone learning kana calligraphy, copying ancient calligraphy works is an essential step on the journey.
Masterpieces like the Kōyagire and the Wakan Rōeishū, overflowing with beautiful kana, are not mere models to copy — they are living textbooks that contain the very essence of calligraphy, as well as deep cultural refinement.

To grasp brush techniques, spatial awareness, the nuances of ink density, and even the intangible “energy” of the brush — things no modern workbook can fully convey — there is no better method than studying the classics.

What Is Ancient Calligraphy? — Facing the Origins of the Art

“Ancient calligraphy” generally refers to famous kana works written from the Heian to Kamakura periods.

For example:

• Kōyagire First Style (attributed to Fujiwara no Yukinari)
• Sunshōan Shikishi (in the lineage of Fujiwara no Teika)
• Sekidobon Kokinshū (attributed to Fujiwara no Sari)
• Wakan Rōeishū (attributed to Fujiwara no Yukinari and others)
• Nenchōbon Wakan Rōeishū

Each of these works has distinct brush intentions, flow, and character structure. Through copying them, learners can absorb a wide range of styles.

The Allure of Ancient Copying 1: Training the Eye

Copying ancient calligraphy is not simply a matter of tracing characters.
The essence lies in observation.

You train yourself to carefully examine:

• The start and finish of each stroke
• The spacing — the ma — between characters
• Brush pressure and speed, inferred from ink density and texture
• The overall rhythm and movement of each line

Through this disciplined “seeing,” your eyes, brain, and hands are all sharpened.
This is the art of visual training, the foundation for cultivating calligraphic sensitivity.

The Allure of Ancient Copying 2: Experiencing the Ma and Subtle Emotion Unique to Kana

In kana calligraphy, much of its expression lies in the unwritten. This is the essence of yojō — emotional resonance that extends beyond the lines themselves.

• The breathing of the lines
• The design of empty space
• The ma within the rhythm of a line

Ancient works condense these invisible beauties.
The Kōyagire Third Style, for example, places greater importance on overall atmosphere and spirit than on the characters alone.
One must approach it as a spatial art — not just a writing exercise.

The Allure of Ancient Copying 3: Cultivating Mental Focus and Inner Quiet

When facing ancient calligraphy, you may find your breathing naturally slows, and your heart calms.

Copying these works demands:

• Precise replication
• Refined concentration
• A near-mindless mental state

This is why calligraphy is considered not just a technique, but a Way — a path of self-cultivation.
Copying ancient works becomes a kind of meditative training for the spirit.

How to Copy Ancient Calligraphy: Practical Tips & Mindset

1. Study full-size reproductions
   Even if you use printed reproductions, always use ones at original scale.
   Shrunken copies distort brush pressure and spatial balance.
2. Don’t trace — feel it
   Simply following the outlines of strokes won’t recreate ancient calligraphy.
   Reproduce the brush’s angle, rhythm, and breath from within.
3. Focus on whole lines, not just individual characters
   In kana, flow is more important than isolated strokes.
   Avoid breaking the writing into pieces. Move your brush with awareness of the overall motion.
4. Spend time looking before writing
   Even if you only copy once a day, devote the first 15 minutes to observation.
   That visual time will echo in your written lines.

Common Misunderstandings and Warnings

• “Copying old works won’t make me better.”
  → The goal isn’t technical perfection — it’s to approach the essence of calligraphy.
• “Isn’t it just imitation?”
  → Copying ancient works builds the foundation for original expression. Learn the skeleton before adding your own flesh.
• “I get bored copying the same thing.”
  → Ancient calligraphy reveals new things only through repetition. That’s where its true joy lies.

Conclusion: Walk the Calligraphy Path with the Ancients

Copying ancient works is not a superficial act of tracing — it is a dialogue of spirit, listening to the breath of the past and reviving it with your own hand.

The beauty of kana, the fade of a line, the breath of ma —
As you absorb these into yourself, your own unique calligraphic style will gradually blossom.

Ancient calligraphy is not the quickest way to improve — it is the deepest.
Why not take your first step down that path today?