Shodo Calligraphy ArticleEmperor Saga (嵯峨天皇) and Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo)
Explore how Emperor Saga influenced Japanese calligraphy during the Nara period, fostering artistic innovation and cultural flourishing.
Japanese Calligraphy
Shodo Calligraphy Article
Shodo Calligraphy ArticleJapanese Culture: The Appeal and Tradition of Japanese Seals
Japanese seals are called Hanko, In, and Insho. They play an important role in Japanese culture. Seals are used to indicate personal or corporate identity and ownership, and are widely used as a substitute for signatures and seals. This article explores the Japanese seal culture and details its charms and traditions.
Shodo Calligraphy ArticleMastering the Brush: Japanese Calligraphy Education in Schools
Hello to all the Japanese language learners out there! As you study how to write Japanese characters, Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana, Japanese people also study how to write the characters in their schools. Then, how and what Japanese people study it? Let’s take a closer look at in this blog!
Shodo Calligraphy ArticleThe Richness of Kanji: Unveiling the Five Font Styles
5 styles as Kanji (Chinese characters) styles: “楷書 (Square style)”, “行書 (Running style)”, “草書 (Cursive style)”, “隷書 (Clerical style)”, and “篆書 (Seal style)”. Even one character can be written in a variety of styles.This article introduces all the 5 styles so that you can experience the richness of Kanji character expression.
Shodo Calligraphy ArticleKukai 空海: Unraveling a Founder of Japanese Calligraphy
“空海 (Kukai)” is the founder of the “真言宗 (Shingon sect of Buddhism)”, which brought esoteric Buddhism to Japan. He was one of “三筆 (Sanpitsu)”, the three famous ancient calligraphers. This article describes Kukai's contributions to calligraphy.
Shodo Calligraphy ArticleCalligraphy Essential tools: A Closer Look at the Four Treasures
The most essential tools and materials for calligraphy are inkstones, brushes, ink, and paper. These 4 tools and materials are called “文房四宝(Bumbo-shiho)”, which means 4 treasures of Shodo. These tools and materials are the most important stationery in calligraphy. This article introduces these 4 tools and materials.
Shodo Calligraphy ArticleThe Timeless Artistry: A Journey through the History of Japanese Calligraphy
It is necessary to mention about the introduction of characters from China to Japan when we talk about origin of Japanese calligraphy. The Chinese characters, Kanji, has been used in China since around the 3rd century B.C., but Japan didn’t have characters at that time.