Shodō – The Art of 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 means way of writing.

History and tradition

The main focus of Japanese calligraphy is simplicity, beauty and a connection between
mind and body. The art of Japanese calligraphy dates back to around the 6th century,
when it was introduced from China. In the beginning the style of calligraphy in Japan was
highly influenced by the Chinese form. Calligraphers copied Chinese poetry and texts, in
order to learn the art.

During the Heian period (794-1185) the Japanese writing system evolved. The borrowed
Chinese characters (漢字, kanji) were still used, but a new type of characters: kana
(hiragana  ひらがな, and later katakana  カタカナ), were created. With these additional
characters the calligraphy transformed into a style unique for Japan.

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.