is believed by
Zen Buddhists
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), an ...
to be a method of achieving
samādhi
''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...
(Japanese: 三昧 ''sanmai''), which is a unification with the highest reality. Hitsuzendo refers specifically to a school of
Japanese
Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
calligraphy to which the rating system of modern
calligraphy (well-proportioned and pleasing to the eye) is foreign. Instead, the calligraphy of Hitsuzendo must breathe with the vitality of eternal experience.
Origins
Yokoyama Tenkei Yokoyama (written: ) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Akihito Yokoyama (born 1961), Japanese golfer
* Chisa Yokoyama (born 1969), Japanese voice actress and singer
* Go Yokoyama in fact ''Tsuyoshi Yokoyama'' (b. 19 ...
(1885–1966), inspired by the teachings of
Yamaoka Tesshu (1836–1888), founded the Hitsuzendo line of thought as a "practice to uncover one's
original self through the brush." This was then further developed by
Omori Sogen
was a Japanese Rinzai Rōshi, a successor in the Tenryū-ji line of Rinzai Zen, and former president of Hanazono University, the Rinzai university in Kyoto, Japan. He became a priest in 1945.
Biography
Ōmori Sōgen was a teacher of Ka ...
Roshi as a way of Zen practice. Hitsuzendo is practised standing, using a large brush and ink, usually on newspaper roll. In this way, the whole body is used to guide the brush, in contrast to writing at a table.
History
Calligraphy was brought to Japan from China and Chinese masters such as
Wang Xizhi
Wang Xizhi (; ; 303 AD361 AD) was a Chinese calligrapher, politician, general and writer during the Jin dynasty. He was best known for his mastery of Chinese calligraphy. Wang is sometimes regarded as the greatest Chinese calligrapher in Chinese ...
王羲之 (Jp: Ou Gishi; 303-361) have had a profound influence, especially on the ''karayō'' style which is still practiced today. The indigenous Japanese ''wayō tradition'' (和様書道, wayō-shodō) only appeared towards the end of the
Heian era. However, the calligraphy of Zen scholars was often more concerned with spiritual qualities and individual expression and shunned technicalities which led to unique and distinctly personal styles.
[Nakata, Yujiro. ''The Art of Japanese Calligraphy'', Weatherhill/Heibonsha, New York/Tojyo, 1973. ] Japanese calligraphy has three basic styles: Kaisho 楷書, Gyōsho 行書, and Sōsho 草書, adopted from China.
Philosophical background
True creativity is not the product of consciousness but rather the "phenomenon of life itself." True creation must arise from mu-shin 無心, the state of "no-mind," in which thought, emotions, and expectations do not matter. Truly skilful Zen calligraphy is not the product of intense "practice;" rather, it is best achieved as the product of the "no-mind" state, a high level of
spirituality, and a heart free of disturbances.
To write Zen calligraphic characters that convey truly deep meaning, one must focus intensely and become one with the meaning of the characters they create. In order to do this, one must free one's mind and heart of disturbances and focus only on the meaning of the character. Becoming one with what you create, essentially, is the philosophy behind Zen Calligraphy and other Japanese arts.
See also
*''
Zenga
''Zenga'' is the term for the practice and art of Zen Buddhist painting and calligraphy in the Japanese tea ceremony and also the martial arts.
Definition
As a noun, Zenga is a style of Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and painting, done in ...
''
*''
Bokuseki
''Bokuseki'' (墨跡) is a Japanese term meaning "ink trace", and refers to a form of Japanese calligraphy ('' shodō'') and more specifically a style of ''zenga'' developed by Zen monks.
''Bokuseki'' is often characterized by bold, assertive, and ...
''
References
* Terayama, Tanchu. ''Zen Brushwork - Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting'' {{ISBN, 4-7700-2944-6
East Asian calligraphy
Japanese calligraphy
Zen Buddhist philosophical concepts
Japanese art
Visual motifs
Zen art and culture
Zenga