Modern Japanese Calligraphy – from 1985 to Now
There are 15 explanations.
１ Shukei 主敬
KAMIJŌ Shinzan 上條 信山 ＜1907-1997＞
Shinzan studied under MIYASHIMA Eishi. He was one of the key figures that incorporated calligraphy into the postwar school curriculum. He studied the Chōmou Ryōhi (張猛龍碑) and the Ku Cheng Gung Ta Chuan Ming (九成宮體泉銘) very carefully and sublimated their essence into this expression.
The words in this piece refer to a modest feeling or attitude.
２ Kanō-Inbun 缶翁印文
AOYAMA San-u 青山 杉雨 ＜1912-1993＞
“Kanō” refers to Wu Changshi (a Chinese master of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving).
The words written here are the same words that were engraved by Wu Changshi on his seal. It says, “Simply hearing a sound is the same as not hearing it. Rather, it is wise to feel the sound with the heart.” The words are written as if a memo to himself. His signature at the end tells us that he feels that he isn’t yet able to hear sounds with his heart at the time this piece was made. 2024 marks the 180th anniversary of Wu Changshi’s birth.
３ Bussetsu-fudōkyō 仏説不動経
TONOMURA Randen 殿村 藍田 ＜1913-2000＞
Randen studied under BUNDŌ Shunkai. He has an outstanding technique based on Chinese Ming and Qing calligraphy and ancient Heian period calligraphic works. This piece is the Fudo Kyō (a representative scripture expressing the teachings of the principal deity, Fudo Myōō), which was written for Narita-san.
４ Kejō-to-hōjō 化城と寶城
SUGIOKA Kason 杉岡 華邨 ＜1913-2012＞
SUGIOKA Kason is a recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit. He also studied Zen.
He wrote texts that explain the teachings of the Buddha in an easy-to-understand manner through parables.
“People in search of treasure came to a point where they were ready to give up. It is then that the guru revealed to them a castle in a vision. The people regained their hope, and the imam continued to lead them to the place of the treasure.”
These words remind us of the importance of changing perspectives and ways of thinking in order to overcome difficulties, and of the preciousness of moving toward a true goal.
５ Wāng Guǎngyáng poem
OZAKI Yūhō 尾崎邑鵬 ＜1924-＞
At age 100, OZAKI Yūhō is still one of today’s leading calligraphy artists. Having studied a wide range of calligraphy from ancient to modern, his pieces have great appeal due to their use of robust yet delicate brush strokes.
６ Tyōzen-taru-enyū-wo-shitau 慕超然遠猷
KISHIDA Shōtai 岸田 照泰 ＜1954-＞
Kishida Shōtai is the current abbot of Narita-san. This piece is meant to express his adoration for the deep and broad teachings of the Buddha Dharma.
７ Rōshi-taidō 老子體道
ARAI Kōfō 新井光風 ＜1937-＞
ARAI Kōfū’s study of the classics under NISHIKAWA Yasushi formed the foundation for his beautiful pieces, which exquisitely express the ancient classical scripts in a modern way.
８ ”Naritasan” 総門「成田山」原稿
HASHIMOTO Shōjin 橋本 照稔 ＜1926-2021＞
This is the manuscript of the oblong sign on the main gate, which was erected to commemorate Narita-san’s 1070th anniversary. The sign can be seen in the center of the main gate.
９ Ryūshi 隆熾
TANAKA Setsuzan 田中節山 ＜1939-＞
Meaning: To deal with things with a strong attitude, like a red-hot fire (Ryūshi).
Setsuzan, who taught former Prime Minister Abe Japanese language for three years in junior high school, wrote this calligraphy with the image of living life to the fullest in the present moment. It was displayed at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
１０ “成田山金剛王院新勝寺” 総門門標原稿
UMEHARA Seizan 梅原 清山 ＜1922-2023＞
This is the manuscript used for the sign on the post of the temple entrance, which was erected on the occasion of Narita-san’s 1070th anniversary. The sign that features this text can be seen on the right side of the main gate of the temple.
１１ Tokkō 徳行
TAKAGI Seiu 髙木 聖雨 ＜1949-＞
Winner of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at Nitten Exhibition in 2015
Born as Takagi Shigeyuki in Okayama prefecture
Studied under Aoyama Sanu and Naruse Eizan
Son of TAKAGI Seikaku
Here, TAKAGI combines the quietness of ancient classical Chinese characters used in inscriptions of bronze vessels with bold brush strokes that give it a sense of strength to make a piece of modern art.
The meaning of this piece refers to excellent deeds or behavior.
１２ Toan-no-in 斗盦先生遺印
KOBAYASHI Toan 小林 斗盦 ＜1916-2007＞
Born as the third generation of a seal store owner, KOBAYASHI Toan learned seal-engraving from KAWAI Senro and calligraphy from NISHIKAWA Yasushi. He is the first seal engraver to be awarded the Order of Cultural Merit. He published a large number of publications introducing a vast number of famous Chinese seals, and was greatly appreciated in China for his scholarship.
★絕塵Zetsuzin
Meaning: to cut oneself off from the mundane world.
★隠悪揚善Inaku-Yōzen
Meaning: Do not talk negatively of others, but rather, expand on their good attributes.
★Tenkoku – Seal Carving
Tenkoku is the act of carving characters into a piece of stone or wood or some hard material to create your own, original seal. Because the characters are carved, they produce a very different feel from characters written on paper with a brush. The script used for tenkoku is often tensho, but lately the roman alphabet is also known to be used. One can carve one’s name, or even a favorite word.
※For an explanation of the tensho script, please check the description of calligraphic style types.
Seals are often used, for example, on pieces of art or calligraphy. The seal acts as a signature, proof that the work was produced by that specific person. The size of the seal, its position, and its style can impact the piece on which it is stamped, making the overall piece more balanced, or giving it a visually tightening effect.
１３ Collections of Writings from Murasaki Shikibu 紫式部集
KOYAMA Yasuko 小山 やす子 ＜1924-2019＞
KOYAMA Yasuko is one of the leading kana-calligraphy artists of the Heisei era. She spent her childhood often exposed to calligraphy, Buddhist art, and antique ceramics along with a wide variety of art forms such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and even oil painting,
For calligraphy, she studied under KAWAGUCHI Shikō and often went to museums to study old-style kohitsu (Japanese calligraphy from the Heian to Kamakura periods).
Always in pursuit of beauty, she gave life to pieces that were an elegant and harmonious fusion of classical and modern calligraphy. She was also the first woman to be elected as a Person of Cultural Merit in the field of calligraphy.
A few words from Yasuko:
“My favorite season is spring. The reason for this is that there is a lot of paper that is just right for spring. Kana is most affected by paper. There are also many spring-themed poems…(omitted)
I can’t do anything until the paper is decided. Once I see the paper, an image of the characters scattered throughout naturally and effortlessly comes to mind.”
Collections of Writings from Murasaki Shikibu
In the history of Japanese calligraphy, it is said that most of famous ancient calligraphy was written by men. However, as Japanese kana calligraphy is called onnade, or “women’s hand,” it is not surprising that a large portion of kana calligraphy is attributed to women. Only a small percentage of upper-class women make up the names that are recorded in calligraphic history.
１４ Tao Yuanming’s Poem on Drinking Wine 陶淵明飲酒詩
FURUTANI Sōin 古谷 蒼韻 ＜1924-2018＞
Born in Kyoto, Furutani Sōin was a great admirer of Nakano Etsunan, and chose to follow the path of a calligrapher because of his influence. He became a disciple of Tsujimoto Shiyū and Murakami Santō.
He studied many calligraphy works, starting with the works of Wang Xizhi, who is considered as the greatest Chinese calligrapher in history, as well as works from monks like Mokkan and Ryōkan of the Edo period. In his pieces, Furutani’s brush strokes are characteristic for their vitality.
１５ “御護摩受付所” 御護摩受付所原稿
NARUSE Eizan 成瀬映山 ＜1920-2007＞
Eizan studied under AOYAMA San-u. This is a manuscript used for a sign that was made in commemoration of the 1070th anniversary of the founding of Naritasan. The sign can be found on the left side of the main entrance gate to the temple.
