Origins & Methods of ShoDo - Japanese Calligraphy for Zen & Martial Arts By Dr. Armstrong

[Bob Hubbard]

Origins & Methods of ShoDo - Japanese Calligraphy for Zen & Martial Arts
By Dr. Jason Armstrong

One often sees Karate and Zen Japanese calligraphy hanging in traditional dojo in Japan and the West. Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) has been practiced by some of the most famous martial artists that have ever lived and is an art to be appreciated, and contemplated. Many books relate budo (the martial arts) to shodo as complementary arts and a first rate example includes “The sword of No-Sword” which documents the life of the sword and zen master Tesshu (book authored by John Stevens; ISBN 0-87773-284-1). This book documents Tesshu’s study of martial arts, Zen & calligraphy in his journey to enlightenment. Miyamoto Musashi is another famous martial artist who also practiced calligraphy.

Japanese calligraphy is more than simply writing as the Chinese characters are derived from pictographs of what they represent (images for this article on www.DownloadKarate.com). In the Japanese language these characters are called "Kanji". Many of the requirements for their production mirror that of “zen” as it is expressed in fighting: e.g. fluid movement, empty mind, the creation of strength in what is created, and the movements are often related to those of a sword in motion.

The 4 primary tools used in Shodo for the creation of the Japanese artwork include:

Shikishi: The traditional medium is rice paper, or thicker rice paper boards called (Shikishi).

Fude: The brush.

Suzuri: a black stone container which the sumi is rubbed in to mix with water.

Sumi: Rather than using “modern ink” the sumi is solid black material that is rubbed in water in the suzuri to produce the black ink which is then used for writing.

Article by Mayuko Simiada (shodo artist) & Sensei Jason Armstrong who has a 5th degree black, and has been trained karate in Japan with a master. Sensei Jason has a Ph.D. from KSU & in 1995. While in Japan he worked in the corporate environment & studied karate. He ultimately became the CEO of a company in Tokyo. More info on the topic of Shodo and Kanji (+ kanji images for download) is at: http://www.downloadkarate.com/index.asp?Sec_ID=287

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