November 11, 2018February 10, 2019

What is “Shodo”, Japanese Calligraphy

Month: November 2018

Shodo is a Japanese word for Japanese Calligraphy, and it is written 書道. The first characator, 書, means “writing”, and the second character, 道, means “path” or “way of life”.

The Kanji (Chinese character), 道 is often associated with many names of other Japanese

cultural activities, like 華道 Japanese flower arrangment、茶道 Japanese tea ceremony、柔道 Jyu-do、空手道 Karate-do、and 剣道 Ken-do. It represents that those cultural activities and martial arts are not just learning things but they are a “way of life”.

In Shodo, it is the use of sumi paint and bamboo brushes to create calligraphy.

It’s history is very long, going back more than 2000 years. It was originally started in China, then came to Japan around the 6^th century. It was part as part of Zen buddhism culture which developed in Japan.

 Japanese word, 龍 — Ryu : dragon

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November 11, 2018February 10, 2019

What does Japanese Calligraphy and Sumi-E painting mean for me?

Month: November 2018

Since I was a little, I used to go to Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) class every Sunday. My late father was a Shodo teacher and tought local children. I used to go to the community center one hour early with my father and helped him to set up and then tear down tables and mats. During the class time I was a student. I rememer that my father was always smiling and very happy during teaching calligraphy. He loved not only Shodo but teaching children as well.

I rememer that he was doing some Sumi-e paintings at home also. He often painting while looking at a sample paintings from different sumi-e books. It looked like a very difficult thing for me at that time.

I was doing Calligraphy practice every weekend until graduating Jr. High school, but I was gradually getting too busy with school activities and others things during high school era, and I was distanced from Shodo.

Many years later, after on and off bringing out some Shodo materials to write, now I’m doing Shodo and Sumi-e daily. I feel that I finally came back to my roots. I’ve been doing drawings and oil and acrylic paintings for many years. Now, I deeply appreciate my father and my heritage. I finally came to the point that I can truly understand and appreciate my cultural heritage more than ever.

Read More

November 11, 2018February 10, 2019

What is “Shodo”, Japanese Calligraphy

Month: November 2018

Shodo is a Japanese word for Japanese Calligraphy, and it is written 書道. The first characator, 書, means “writing”, and the second character, 道, means “path” or “way of life”.

The Kanji (Chinese character), 道 is often associated with many names of other Japanese

cultural activities, like 華道 Japanese flower arrangment、茶道 Japanese tea ceremony、柔道 Jyu-do、空手道 Karate-do、and 剣道 Ken-do. It represents that those cultural activities and martial arts are not just learning things but they are a “way of life”.

In Shodo, it is the use of sumi paint and bamboo brushes to create calligraphy.

It’s history is very long, going back more than 2000 years. It was originally started in China, then came to Japan around the 6^th century. It was part as part of Zen buddhism culture which developed in Japan.

 Japanese word, 龍 — Ryu : dragon

Read More

November 11, 2018February 10, 2019

What does Japanese Calligraphy and Sumi-E painting mean for me?

Month: November 2018

Since I was a little, I used to go to Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) class every Sunday. My late father was a Shodo teacher and tought local children. I used to go to the community center one hour early with my father and helped him to set up and then tear down tables and mats. During the class time I was a student. I rememer that my father was always smiling and very happy during teaching calligraphy. He loved not only Shodo but teaching children as well.

I rememer that he was doing some Sumi-e paintings at home also. He often painting while looking at a sample paintings from different sumi-e books. It looked like a very difficult thing for me at that time.

I was doing Calligraphy practice every weekend until graduating Jr. High school, but I was gradually getting too busy with school activities and others things during high school era, and I was distanced from Shodo.

Many years later, after on and off bringing out some Shodo materials to write, now I’m doing Shodo and Sumi-e daily. I feel that I finally came back to my roots. I’ve been doing drawings and oil and acrylic paintings for many years. Now, I deeply appreciate my father and my heritage. I finally came to the point that I can truly understand and appreciate my cultural heritage more than ever.

Read More