Calligraphy

My thoughts on calligraphy are that it is elegant in nature with much more of a

spiritual/religious connection than what is generally seen in Western culture. I find the history of

calligraphy interesting as there is an emphasis on a spiritual aspect and the use of the characters

to practice an individual’s self and mind. The inspiration for Kana symbols came from the lack

of Chinese characters that could be pronounced. There is also a connection to Zen Buddhism, as

calligraphy is crafted in a natural flow and must be done with a clear mind. This is a stark

difference in the practice of writing in Western culture as words are only looked at as characters

and nothing more. There is no concentration of the mind involved, but calligraphy focuses on

having an elegant manner, both in the physical practice of calligraphy and the spiritual/mental

aspect of its use.

When observing the practice of calligraphy, the equipment shown is an indicator of a

special practice as a brush, paper, ink stone, and ink marker is required rather than just paper and

a pencil. Another difference is that when writing with ink, there are differently named strokes

that indicate the direction, movement, and pressure that the brush should move in. The

smoothness that is shown within each stroke, helps envision the clarity of the mind and an

individual’s character as having a thoughtful and clear process rather than a chaotic jotting down

of characters. At first glance, it does look difficult for those who don’t have advanced

recognition of the characters, but it still looks like good practice for both learning the language

and using it as a form of art. I would personally like to try practicing calligraphy since it looks

enjoyable and is almost a form of meditation. I would also use it to practice learning the

language as it seems to be a great way for many people to learn the culture of Japan as well.