Japan Nakama
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • Anime
  • Creativity
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • TV & Film
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Gaming
  • Language
  • Travel
  • Music
NAKAMA SHOP
Cart / £0.00

No products in the cart.

Japan Nakama
NAKAMA SHOP
Japan Nakama
No Result
View All Result

Home » Creativity » The Art of Shodō: Traditional Japanese Calligraphy

The Art of Shodō: Traditional Japanese Calligraphy

Richard Young by Richard Young
2 April 2021
in Creativity, Culture, Lifestyle
0
🔖 4 min read

Quick View

  • Rie Takeda and Japanese Calligraphy
  • Rie Takeda’s Mindfulness Method
  • Japanese Calligraphy in UK and the rest of Europe
  • Why is Calligraphy important to Japan?
  • The School of Shodō – The Art of Japanese Calligraphy

Japanese Calligraphy (書道), or Shodō (way of writing), is a writing art form that dates back to the 6th century. A craft requiring skill and patience, artists use a brush dipped with ink to express ancient forms of communication with Kanji symbols and characters. 

The art form first originated in China. At the time, Japan did not have a written expression of language. Japanese people began to adopt a style through Chinese characters and symbols, thus introducing Japanese calligraphy.

How fun would it be to pick the brain of a Japanese calligraphy artist?

We spoke to Rie Takeda, a UK/Germany-based calligrapher who gave us her story of learning this ancient craft, along with her unique teaching methods, and why Japanese calligraphy is important to Japan.

Firstly, do you remember the moment when you first fell in love with Japanese Calligraphy?

I don’t remember precisely the moment.


However, I remember I enjoyed rubbing the Sumi stick, and the scent of the Sumi – the whole process of doing calligraphy made me calmer and peaceful. That’s why I continued practicing this art form – that led me to what I am and where I am today.

A short version of 'Visual Calligraphy'

After mastering the craft of Shodō, you developed a teaching method you call mindfulness method; Can you explain why this resonates so well with your students?

After trying out various ways and experimenting practices, I created this method.

I think it could be how I focus on guiding students to become aware of their inner energy and showing the technique that enables them to make the energy flow instantly visible on the paper. Through the process, they can stay in the present moment during the practice and enjoy capturing the momentum flow. Often one would then become calmer and very meditative.

With this mindfulness process, students feel lighter, more transparent, and peaceful.

Nakama suggests
Sumi Painting Kanji Brush Set
£5.79 (£1.93 / count)
  •  Material: wolf hair, easy to clean and durable; just run under warm water to wash out the paint and use your fingers to gently reshape brush hairs.
  • Wooden Brush Holder: Delicate, well lubricated, naturally elastic and rounded.
Sumi Painting Kanji Brush Set
Shop Now
06/30/2022 01:52 pm GMT

Upon reading your approach to teaching Shodō calligraphy, you seem to focus on mental and physical awareness. Do you think this is an essential factor for calligraphy artists?

Yes, definitely! I find it is an essential factor for a calligrapher, including students.

I focus on the body and mind connection as a core element. It enables the artist to absorb the techniques and skill and allows the calligraphic expression to serve as an artistic challenge.

Nakama suggests
Kuretake Bimoji Fude Felt Tip Brush Pen Set
Kuretake Bimoji Fude Felt Tip Brush Pen Set
£11.99
  •  Four black ink brush pens
  • Water based pigment ink
  • Sizes in this set: super fine, fine, medium and broad  
Shop Now
06/30/2022 01:32 pm GMT

Why do you think Japanese Calligraphy became so popular here in the UK and the rest of Europe?

From my experience, I envisage most people to feel some calming release and sensual lightness when they see the brush flowing as its dances on paper. I do believe this is already a very soothing effect. I think this is one of the main reasons people get interested in calligraphy.

sanshotai

Why is Calligraphy important to Japan?

I guess there are many reasons – but I would point out a few significant aspects to why calligraphy became important to Japan.

Firstly, the communicational aspect of calligraphy was used for official letters, information exchange, and recording facts, which enriched the cultural, intellectual understanding.

Even in our digital time, writing beautiful calligraphy and applying the technique is still regarded as a highly-skilled craft that you still see today in official certificates and documentation. 

Next is the artistic aspect. Calligraphy became an essential instrument for all literature, poetry, Haiku, Tanka, and Sumie ink paintings and woodblock prints. 

The calligraphy styles were developed further as calligraphers and artists experimented with the momentum of the times. Edo-Moji (江戸文字), which was used for posters, flyers, and signboards in the theatre, became

influential to the modern-pop lettering, typography, manga art, and graphic design in our time. 

The appreciation of calligraphy from classic to latest style continues today.

The third is the spiritual aspect. Calligraphy’s learning process requires a body-mind connection; I believe the mindfulness element of “calligraphy” has always been important for people to understand the spiritual quality, partly because of Shinto and Buddhism’s deep ritual background in Japan.

Neo-Japonism Art
Shodo Gyosho on Tatami
Body-Art

A Shinto purification practice, known as Oharae no kotoba (大祓詞), meaning Great Purification, is a prayer believed to keep the power of kami (Shinto ‘spirits’ or ‘deities’) since ancient times. People have prayed for their wishes/dreams to come true by purifying their spirits through the act of transcribing words.

Buddhism reflects SHAKYOU写経 – calligraphy-ing / tracing the Sutras. 

It was initially a means of spreading the Buddha way among people and praying to fulfill one’s wish. People began privately doing Shakyo as a Buddhist practice or as a prayer/wish for healing and consoling their ancestors’ souls. Nowadays, Shayo became a means of meditation – we can do Shakyo to be calm, reflect on ourselves and attain mental well-being by mindfully tracing the sacred scriptures.

From my point of view, those three aspects are the vital reasons why calligraphy is important to Japan.

Kanji Japanese Sumi Drawing Brush Set
£13.29
  •  Color: Black, brown. Material: Soft wolf hair and wood handle.
  • Length: 28cm / 27.2cm / 26.8cm.
  • 3 size: Large / Small / Medium, suited for writing and painting.
Kanji Japanese Sumi Drawing Brush Set
Shop Now
06/30/2022 01:47 pm GMT

Check out The School of Shodō – The Art of Japanese Calligraphy which features Rie’s amazing portfolio, including her lessons and workshops available in class and online.

Nakama suggests
Wolf Hair Calligraphy Painting Brushes
£5.99 (£2.00 / count)
  • With the wooden shaft, perfect for calligraphy and painting drawing beginners.
  • Traditional writing and painting tools beneficial to professional or amateur calligraphy lovers.
  • For calligraphy regular script, wooden shaft, very convenient and comfortable to handle.
Wolf Hair Calligraphy Painting Brushes
Shop Now
06/30/2022 08:17 pm GMT
Tags: calligraphycalligraphy in JapanRie TakedaSchool of SHODO The Art of Traditional Japanese CalligraphyShodō
Previous Post

Raising a Shiba Inu During Lockdown

Next Post

Japanese Streetwear with Tokyo Time

Richard Young

Richard Young

Freelance writer, Copywriter, and Editor covering all aspects of Japanese Culture.Content inquiries welcome via rywriters.com

Related Posts

46950747 342187609909743 2649636681489055744 n
Fashion & Beauty

HYPER JAPAN 2018 Fashion: Kimonos, Calligraphy and Dreamy Bows

The stalls of this Winter’s Hyper Japan settled in with the intention of impressing people with the quirky matchlessness that is the Japanese culture and...

by Zara Woodcock
48364992 1191859600967649 6920251663244591104 n
Creativity

HYPER JAPAN 2018 Arts & Crafts: Miyabi, Shodō and Animal-Free Shamisens

Following the Japan Nakama app, I finally arrived at Kensington Olympia, where London’s largest Japanese Convention, Hyper Japan, was in full swing. After a brief...

by Cleary Mallard
Japanese Calligraphy with Taki Kodaira
Creativity

Japanese Calligraphy with Taki Kodaira

The SOAS Japan Society kindly invited me along to one of their (many) events last Saturday, a Japanese calligraphy workshop with esteemed calligrapher, Taki Kodaira....

by Cleary Mallard
Next Post
Japanese Streetwear with Tokyo Time

Japanese Streetwear with Tokyo Time

Kamon---High-Quality

Japan Nakama is an online lifestyle and culture magazine. We explore our love for Japan by writing about food, art, fashion and style and anime. We also champion and promote small businesses inspired by Japan. Check out our curated Japanese product marketplace.

Nakama Newsletter

 

Help & Support

For order, product or support queries - please email [email protected]

Order Online

  • Clothing
  • Gifts
  • Artwork & Prints
  • Home & Kitchen

Follow us

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

© 2022 Japan Nakama - Exploring All Things Japan

  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Policy
  • Refunds and Returns
  • Terms and Conditions
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • 🛒 NAKAMA SHOP
  • Anime
  • Creativity
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • TV & Film
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Gaming
  • Language
  • Travel
  • Music

© 2022 Japan Nakama - Connecting people through the spirit of Japan

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.