When I look at a piece of calligraphy, I usually receive an immediate impression. But almost at once, my attention shifts to a simple question:
\u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading or Feeling?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditional Japanese rooms often display calligraphy as decoration. The same is true of tea rooms. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to read it. Just feel it. Savor it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, an associate professor of art\u2014whose specialty is ceramics\u2014once wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWithout knowledge, you cannot truly appreciate art.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n So, what should I do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n To explore that balance, let\u2019s open a textbook\u2014specifically, a high school calligraphy textbook\u2014and learn some basic ways of appreciating calligraphy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three Steps to Appreciating Calligraphy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 1: Look at the Whole<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, take in the entire work and notice your overall impression. Does it feel powerful? Rustic? Dignified? Bold? Elegant? Quiet? Flexible? Step 2: Look More Closely<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, observe the details. In calligraphy, we usually focus on three points: 1) Lines<\/strong> 2) Character Form<\/strong> 3) Composition<\/strong> Step 3: Put It into Words<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, gather the words and impressions you noticed in Steps 1 and 2. And Still\u2026 We Want to Know What It Says<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, we\u2019re still curious about the meaning. After appreciating the work freely, try reading the caption, or ask the owner or teacher about the text. A Child\u2019s Way of Seeing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I once showed a photo of a piece of calligraphy\u2014probably unreadable even for most adults\u2014to my eight-year-old son and asked for his impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt feels slow. I imagine the sea. The sky, the sea, and mountains. I can almost read some hiragana\u2014\u3042\u308f (awa)<\/em>, bubbles. Someone is swimming, and bubbles are floating up in the water.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (His reading \u3042\u308f (awa) was incorrect, but I loved the image.<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought it was a wonderful response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The piece was a fragment of Horai-gire<\/em> (mid-11th century), featured in a textbook. The text describes the meaning, “countless cranes flying across the vast sky, as if celebrating your longevity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The paper is decorated with shimmering mica and cloud-shaped indigo patterns\u2014forms that can also resemble ocean waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To me, the cranes flying through the sky and my son\u2019s image of someone swimming in the open sea did not feel so different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoy Calligraphy Freely<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Calligraphy is meant to be appreciated freely. Put your feelings into words and enjoy the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many Japanese people feel they are not good at verbalizing impressions\u2014but when they do, others are often deeply pleased to hear them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And one more thing to notice: the mounting of hanging scrolls<\/strong>. At our salon, we invite you not only to look at calligraphy, but to experience it by writing.
In one video, a famous tea ceremony master said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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There is no right or wrong answer\u2014just trust your first feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(1) lines, (2) character form, and (3) composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are there strong and weak lines, thick and thin strokes? If so, we say the work has rhythm and variation.
When both ink bleed (wet strokes) and dry-brush effects appear together, this balance is called junkatsu<\/em>\u2014the harmony of moisture and dryness.
Lines can be described using words similar to overall impressions:
wild, rhythmic, light, fleeting, tense, calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This may seem difficult if you cannot read the characters. However, Japanese characters generally fit within an invisible square. Even without reading them, you may notice that characters are unusually tall, wide, compressed, or stretched.
If something catches your attention, try putting it into words\u2014but it\u2019s perfectly fine if you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look at the spacing between characters and the empty space surrounding them. Wide spacing can feel relaxed and open, while tightly packed characters may feel dense and precise.
Sometimes, although calligraphy is a two-dimensional art, you may sense depth or movement. This can be described as a three-dimensional feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By doing this, you begin to understand why you find a piece beautiful\u2014and you can truly savor it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may think,
\u201cAh, that\u2019s why it was written with such soft, flowing lines.\u201d
Understanding the meaning can deepen your appreciation even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Just as a frame enhances a painting, several carefully chosen fabrics are used to complement and elevate the calligraphy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By holding the brush, feeling the ink, and moving your body slowly and quietly, you may discover your own way of appreciating calligraphy\u2014with curiosity and joy.<\/p>\n\n\n