What do you think?
Rate this book
The Art of Budo: The Calligraphy and Paintings of the Martial Arts Masters
Beginning with the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, nearly all of the great Japanese martial arts masters left a legacy of calligraphy and painting. In this art, rooted in the tradition of Zenga and Zensho (meditative painting and calligraphy), the brushstrokes are considered to be alive, conveying a master’s teaching directly and concisely. When the artwork is displayed in a dojo or more intimately in one’s home, the master is experienced as a living presence.
This stunning collection of spiritual calligraphy presents a concise history of this tradition, with works from Miyamoto Musashi, Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, Saigo Takamori, Otagaki Rengetsu, Yamaoka Tesshu, Kano Jigoro, Ueshiba Morihei, and many others. Aikido master and Zen art expert John Stevens provides a fascinating introduction to the tradition, illuminating commentary on each piece, and biographical details on each of the warrior artists.
This stunning collection of spiritual calligraphy presents a concise history of this tradition, with works from Miyamoto Musashi, Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, Saigo Takamori, Otagaki Rengetsu, Yamaoka Tesshu, Kano Jigoro, Ueshiba Morihei, and many others. Aikido master and Zen art expert John Stevens provides a fascinating introduction to the tradition, illuminating commentary on each piece, and biographical details on each of the warrior artists.
280 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2022
2 people are currently reading
1595 people want to read
About the author
John Stevens
359 books14 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
This is John^Stevens, where ^=space. (default profile)
This is John^Stevens, where ^=space. (default profile)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 23, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Shambhala Publications for an advanced copy of this book featuring works of art from martial arts masters and teachers throughout history
Creating art is a spiritual experience both for the creator and for the observer. The artist must dig deep, find their center and bring forth energy for creation. This is the same for the martial arts, calligraphy, or simple pen stroke paintings. One must be comfortable with oneself to find what makes them strive to create, be it a strike towards victory or a strike on paper that completes a work. Discipline helps, as does practice, but a true master a true artist knows what will happen before a fist is raised, or ink put to brush. The Art of Budo: The Calligraphy and Paintings of the Martial Arts Masters is a collection of works by many masters throughout the eras, compiled with commentary by John Stevens, Aikido master and zen art expert, art that gets to source of their abilities, and their ability to concentrate and focus their will.
The book begins with an introduction by the author, discussing the history of brush work in East Asian culture and how the strokes can revel much about the artist's inner life and abilities. This is followed by a short history of some of the masters, stories told about them, the importance of art in the martial arts, and the development of style. Readers are then introduced to the art, with beautiful reproductions of calligraphy, ink tracings and more. Some are simple a small sketch, a brief poem or haiku. Some are quite elaborate telling a story. A few are funny, which is sometimes bit unexpected. And a few all very moving.
The pictures all have commentary about the artists, a brief description, an explanation of how or why the picture was made with notes on the technique, style and other facts. The commentary is quite informative, revealing quite a bit and not lecturing the reader. Art is sometimes hard to share and interpretations tell more about the interpreters than the art. Stevens however is quite good at sharing and keeping the reader engaged. The book ends with a longer biographical section about the artists, and other books for those who wish to learn more.
A very beautiful book, perfect for both artists and martial artists. The text is very informative and extremely well written. The art is something that should be seen, and contemplated. A unique gift for the right person.
Creating art is a spiritual experience both for the creator and for the observer. The artist must dig deep, find their center and bring forth energy for creation. This is the same for the martial arts, calligraphy, or simple pen stroke paintings. One must be comfortable with oneself to find what makes them strive to create, be it a strike towards victory or a strike on paper that completes a work. Discipline helps, as does practice, but a true master a true artist knows what will happen before a fist is raised, or ink put to brush. The Art of Budo: The Calligraphy and Paintings of the Martial Arts Masters is a collection of works by many masters throughout the eras, compiled with commentary by John Stevens, Aikido master and zen art expert, art that gets to source of their abilities, and their ability to concentrate and focus their will.
The book begins with an introduction by the author, discussing the history of brush work in East Asian culture and how the strokes can revel much about the artist's inner life and abilities. This is followed by a short history of some of the masters, stories told about them, the importance of art in the martial arts, and the development of style. Readers are then introduced to the art, with beautiful reproductions of calligraphy, ink tracings and more. Some are simple a small sketch, a brief poem or haiku. Some are quite elaborate telling a story. A few are funny, which is sometimes bit unexpected. And a few all very moving.
The pictures all have commentary about the artists, a brief description, an explanation of how or why the picture was made with notes on the technique, style and other facts. The commentary is quite informative, revealing quite a bit and not lecturing the reader. Art is sometimes hard to share and interpretations tell more about the interpreters than the art. Stevens however is quite good at sharing and keeping the reader engaged. The book ends with a longer biographical section about the artists, and other books for those who wish to learn more.
A very beautiful book, perfect for both artists and martial artists. The text is very informative and extremely well written. The art is something that should be seen, and contemplated. A unique gift for the right person.
January 19, 2023
I was thrilled to receive this beautiful little book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. John Stevens writes in the introduction that this is not an art history tome but rather a meditation manual in which the artwork is meant to be contemplated rather than analyzed.
The subject of the calligraphy is often zen philosophy, poetry, or popular adages of the time. John Stevens offers illuminating insight into the meaning and subtext of the brush strokes. I adored the paintings in the book, there was something so charmingly quirky about the Zen snowman’s existential dread as he melted away or the frog assuming a sumo pose to resist the snake. Yet each image, each brush stroke contained multitudes of meanings.
I was drawn to the work of Rengetsu- her loose and flowing calligraphy appears to swirl together in a dance. Yet all of her characters are perfectly weighted and proportioned-creating artwork that is remarkably balanced. I was able to learn more about her and the other artists in the biographies section at the back of the book.
When I first began reading this book I believed it would offer little more than new-age navel gazing yet I was profoundly struck by the transcendental questions that dripped from the ancient scrolls. Art, culture, and society may change but the human condition does not.
The subject of the calligraphy is often zen philosophy, poetry, or popular adages of the time. John Stevens offers illuminating insight into the meaning and subtext of the brush strokes. I adored the paintings in the book, there was something so charmingly quirky about the Zen snowman’s existential dread as he melted away or the frog assuming a sumo pose to resist the snake. Yet each image, each brush stroke contained multitudes of meanings.
I was drawn to the work of Rengetsu- her loose and flowing calligraphy appears to swirl together in a dance. Yet all of her characters are perfectly weighted and proportioned-creating artwork that is remarkably balanced. I was able to learn more about her and the other artists in the biographies section at the back of the book.
When I first began reading this book I believed it would offer little more than new-age navel gazing yet I was profoundly struck by the transcendental questions that dripped from the ancient scrolls. Art, culture, and society may change but the human condition does not.
March 19, 2025
Received via Goodreads giveaway.
It's an interesting book full of various pieces. Some are more interesting than others. What might have helped me appreciate it more would have been a discussion of calligraphy and what makes something worth looking at beyond who provided the brush strokes. Some pieces looked, to my untrained eye, pretty sloppy. Like I would struggle to determine specific characters even if I were more familiar with them. Or, if the importance really lies with the martial artist, they could be grouped that way with an introduction to the individuals who painted each one. I can find my own importance in each one, sure, but I would like to know why these specific ones were curated for this book.
It's an interesting book full of various pieces. Some are more interesting than others. What might have helped me appreciate it more would have been a discussion of calligraphy and what makes something worth looking at beyond who provided the brush strokes. Some pieces looked, to my untrained eye, pretty sloppy. Like I would struggle to determine specific characters even if I were more familiar with them. Or, if the importance really lies with the martial artist, they could be grouped that way with an introduction to the individuals who painted each one. I can find my own importance in each one, sure, but I would like to know why these specific ones were curated for this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews