Shodō — the art of Japanese calligraphy

Hello, everyone!
I’m Mai Tamashiro, a Japanese calligrapher, and a calligraphy instructor.
Please call me Mai:)
I create Japanese calligraphy postcards called 「GOEN-HAGAKI」 and organize lectures on how to make them, and why it’s important for us to know. I have taught more than 800 people in the last 5 years, and I’m planning on visiting educational institutions to organize the seminars.

Here in this blog, my purpose is to convey the virtue and the significant value of Japanese calligraphy as I believe calligraphy is one of the oldest and purest art expressions of what Japan is as a country and culture.
Today, let me tell you about Shodo culture, Japanese calligraphy!
Japanese calligraphy is one of the most well known and popular of the traditional arts of Japan. It’s called shodō (書道) in Japanese, which literally means way of writing. Shodō has a very long history. However, it’s still practiced today and it’s a popular class in school, from elementary school throughout university.
Here’s our guide to the tradition of Shodō.

Shodō is closely linked to Zen Buddhism and is influenced by its ideas and values. Japanese calligraphy goes far beyond simply writing characters or words. The key to true calligraphy is to bring the mind and soul into the work and to write with your heart, otherwise it’s meaningless. The calligrapher only has one chance, since the brush strokes can’t be corrected. To express a deep meaning, the work must show the emotions, personality and passion of the artist. It is also said that the way of writing is the path to enlightenment.

Calligraphy is commonly practiced by Zen buddhist monks. The Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro pointed out that the Zen calligraphy is not mastered by constant practice. To write Zen calligraphy the mind must be clear, and the characters flow out effortlessly. This state of mind is called mushin (無心), and means “consciousness without consciousness”. When practicing Japanese calligraphy, you should clear your mind and focus only on the meaning of the words you write.

Japanese calligraphy is a millennia-old art that still exists today, reflecting Japanese culture and aesthetics. Being one of the most popular and important traditional art forms.
Thank you for your time!
It’s my pleasure if this blog becomes an opportunity for you to get interested in the Japanese culture of calligraphy.
See you in my next blog, and have a nice day:)
Best,
Mai