At our last Shodō workshops before the summer break, we enjoyed some relaxed yet inspiring brushing and our inspiration was calligraphy itself!

We brushed the kanji characters of the word Shodō 書道, meaning the Way of Calligraphy or Path of Writing, or simply Japanese calligraphy, with a special focus this time on the ways to brush the first kanji sho 書. We brushed in three styles (kaisho, gyōsho and sōsho) and looked at the spiritual imagery of the oldest styles, which clearly shows the brush being held by hand and the twig and bowl below ✨

Both online and in person Shodō groups were lovely and peaceful, with participants enjoying the summer calligraphy vibes and relaxed discussion about cursive styles and the meditative aspects of brushing them.

At both our online and in person Shodō groups, which have been buzzing in recent months, we brushed the two kanji characters of the word Shunjū 春秋 . Shunjū means Spring and Autumn, or the seasons more generally, or the length of time passing.

There is also a deeper zen meaning related to hot and cold and dropping off attachments, which Blair described at the beginning of the group. We looked at the natural background of images in both spring and autumn, such as plants and sunshine, as well as grain and insects and fire, found in the ancient shell and bone style ✨

After becoming familiar with the materials and how to hold the fude brush we had time for stroke practice and then getting a feel for brushing with sumi ink, fude and hanshi paper in harmony.

We brushed the two kanji together, in two styles (kaisho, sōsho), and there was some time to look at the gyōsho semi cursive. Many thanks for joining!

Below is a sensory waka poem by Dōgen Zenji (translation by Blair) that has a free and timeless seasonal feel:

spring vitality –
though buffeted by mountain winds,
blossoming

the scent of flowers swirl
around the peaks and through the valleys

Dōgen Zenji

In the Arts Complex of Bristol University at the end of April, Blair presented two taster Japanese Shodō calligraphy workshops with a Zen theme, for the Buddhist Studies Day in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, with schools and staff participating.

This was part of a varied and educational day of events including discussions, demonstrations and lectures by university staff on Indian Buddhism, Zen Meditation and Mahayana Philosophy. It was a fun filled and insightful day of activity.

Taking the Zen word Godō 悟道, meaning the way or path of satori/enlightenment, Blair discussed the Buddhist and Taoist meanings and origins of the kanji characters, looking at the shell and bone kōkotsubun 甲骨文 examples as well as discussing transliteration, before working on stroke practice and then brushing Godō firstly in kaisho regular script and then the more flowing sōsho fully cursive, with examples brushed by Zen practitioner calligraphers.

We had energetic and fun Shodō groups at KSD in Glasgow, as well at Zen Brush (online), brushing the two kanji characters of the word Zazen 座禅, meaning zen seated meditation. The za means sitting and the zen has meanings including meditation and awareness. Everyone got the feel of the two characters together – great going!

Blair briefly showed examples of older styles of both characters illustrating the meanings and spiritual background of the kanji, such as how the za changed through the centuries, before we practiced kaisho strokes and began brushing zazen in kaisho and then sōsho cursive styles. We also looked at the gyōsho semi cursive style.

A zen 禅 themed poem that captures some of the spirit of the character is by Ryushu Shutaku:

For all these years, my certain Zen:
Neither I nor the world exist.
The sutras neat within the box,
My cane hooked upon the wall,
I lie at peace in moonlight
Or, hearing water plashing on the rock,
Sit up: none can purchase pleasure such as this:
Spangled across the step-moss, a million coins!

Ryushu Shutaku

Many thanks for taking part and also to participants who shared images of their calligraphy for this post.

After some fun mark making and then some stroke practice, we worked on the characters together in two styles (kaisho standard script, and sōsho cursive ‘grass’ style). Blair discussed their visual background, including the pictograms of the foot at the crossroads and also the heart-mind, and the meanings of the phrase in zen ✨

Here is a short waka poem by Master Dogen (translation by S. Heine) on the theme of ‘satori’ and the ‘way’:

seeking the way
amid the deepest mountain paths,
the retreat I find
none other than
my primordial home: satori!

Master Dogen (translation by S. Heine)

Many thanks for joining and also to participants who shared their calligraphy for this post.

At the end of January and start of February we ran two sessions, our monthly group at KSD centre and the other a special group for students in the west end of Glasgow. One of the phrases we brushed was 福寿 Fukuju – which can be translated as luck and longevity, or blessings and congratulations.

At KSD Blair introduced the characters and their background seen in old styles such as the tensho (with pictograms including symbols of long life and sake for blessings) before we enjoyed some loosening up and basic stroke practice. We then started brushing the kaisho standard ‘boxy’ script, working on the two kanji in a single page of hanshi paper, finding the chushin centre line and balance between the characters.

We then went on to sōsho ‘grass’ full cursive style, this time copying Fukuju written by Blair’s first Shodō teacher Wakabayashi Shūjō (based Toyama, Japan) who enjoyed brushing these characters often on paper, calligraphy board or even elegant Chinese vases, sometimes on a very large scale with the expressive marking he loved. It was a fun example to work from, so well done to everyone trying out writing his energetic style. Thanks for joining and catch up with you again next time!

If you are interested in a shodō calligraphy workshop or event for your group, please contact us for more info.

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