Shodo: The Quiet Art of Japanese Zen Calligraphy

by Shozo Sato, Gengo Akiba Roshi (Introduction), Alice Ogura Sato (Translator)

In this beautiful and extraordinary zen calligraphy book, Shozo Sato, an internationally recognized master of traditional Zen arts, teaches the art of Japanese calligraphy through the power and wisdom of Zen poetry.Single-line Zen Buddhist koan aphorisms, or zengo, are one of the most common subjects for the traditional Japanese brush calligraphy known as shodo. Regarded as one of the key disciplines in fostering the focused, meditative state of mind so essential to Zen, shodo calligraphy is practiced regularly by all students of Zen Buddhism in Japan. After providing a brief history of Japanese calligraphy and its close relationship with the teachings of Zen Buddhism, Sato explains the basic supplies and fundamental brushstroke skills that you'll need. He goes on to present thirty zengo, each An example by a skilled Zen monk or master calligrapherAn explanation of the individual characters and the Zen koan as a wholeStep-by-step instructions on how to paint the phrase in a number of styles (Kaisho, Gyosho, Sosho)A stunning volume on the intersection of Japanese aesthetics and Zen Buddhist thought, The Quiet Art of Japanese Zen Calligraphy guides beginning and advanced students alike to a deeper understanding of the unique brush painting art form of shodo calligraphy.Shodo calligraphy topics The Art of KanjiThe Four Treasures of ShodoIdeogram ZengoStudents of Shodo

Genres: Art, Japan, Zen, Nonfiction, Japanese Literature, Martial Arts, Buddhism

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2013

About the author

Shōzō Satō was an artist, author, calligrapher, playwright, and a professor emeritus of the College of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He was the founder and former director of Japan House, and a former artist-in-residence at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
He was an internationally renowned master of Japanese traditional arts, such as Ikebana, Japanese Calligraphy, Sumi-e, Japanese Aesthetics, Japanese Traditional Dance, and Japanese Tea Ceremony. He was also a visionary theater director, most known for adapting Western classics into a traditional Japanese Kabuki style.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont think this book was super intellectual, but it was just really fun to read. It essentially consists of a brief history and description of japanese zen calligraphy and the materials used etc. Then its a whole bunch of zen koans shown in calligraphic form in formal and informal styles with each one explained for someone not familiar with zen. Over looking at a bunch of these you start to get an impression of what the artists are trying to do in the calligraphy compositionally and artistically, and how the visual style of the piece relates to the zen content. For westerners who dont speak or read japanese, you really need something like this to appreciate what japanese calligraphers are actually doing.
It seems to be intended as an instructional book on how to do calligraphy, but I doubt it would work well at that function and did not attempt any calligraphy based on it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is ongoing as I continue to learn calligraphy both on an online course and by reading amazing books like this one. It is more a way of thinking, a way of life which at my age, and with how the world is currently, is very attractive! 🙏

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книга прекрасно будет смотреться в качестве украшения на полке в тематическом заведении, или поклонника каллиграфии. Но в первую очередь хочу рассмотреть её с практической точки зрения.

Сёдо – путь письма, если дословно, и книга частично об этом. Самая увлекательная её часть рассказывает о принципах сёдо и о философии искусства кандзи. Вскользь затрагиваются инструменты и то, как следует проводить черты. По сути, это содержание небольшого вступления из нескольких глав.

Основа же – афоризмы дзен-буддийских коанов (иначе дзенго), которые чаще всего изображают каллиграфы. Автор делит книгу на главы по количеству идеограмм в дзенго от одного до восьми и подробно обозревает каждый афоризм.

Читатель узнает и историю возникновения и содержание конкретных дзенго, увидит несколько примеров в исполнении одного-двух каллиграфов и при желании научится исполнять кандзи в основных стилях японской каллиграфии –кайсё, гёсё и сосё.

Последняя глава посвящена известных в узких кругах студентам и школам сёдо, может представлять ценность для этих самых узких кругов, но не широкого круга читателей.

Собственно, книга даёт ровно то, что ожидаешь, и скорее даже чуть меньше. Она не даст понимание японского языка, она не научит письму, она преподнесёт только основы каллиграфии и немного раскроет духовность этого искусства. А остальное увлеченным людям придется познавать самостоятельно.

Однако автору стоит отдать должное. Сёдзо Сато – крутой мужик, который посвятил жизнь изучению и преподаванию японских традиционных искусств, и даже получил за это орден от Императора Японии.

[Michele Paiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up on a whim, to use in therapy sessions. I find it to be one of my favorite professional and personal books. (I use for therapeutic art)

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant guide to both shodo and zengo.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty book but it does not have enough information for students to learn calligraphy on their own. It would make a good supplement though.

[Joanna Darrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ok, not really very detailed or something that you will learn a great deal from, but a beautiful book and something to absorb and experience, rather than something to learn or study.