Wednesday, September 14, 2011

亀鶴 Kikaku Longevity & Long Life

This wallscroll or kakejiku is no longer available for sale. For pricing or to buy a custom scroll please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or call 801-785-0919.

This handmade Kakejiku is done in the Maru Hyougu style written in Kaisho by Ryugyoku. (Yoshimi Yamada Maples) Meaning of the scroll is explained below.

This phrase in Japanese reads 亀鶴 Kikaku. The first character is 亀Kame or turtle, and one can see that the character written on the scroll is different than the character written here. The typed kanji above is the new character for turtle. The second character, 鶴Tsuru, means a crane. This phrase is normally written in reverse with the Tsuru first and the Kame second, and t
he simple meaning is Longevity. The crane symbolizes a 1,000 years and the Turtle 10,000 years. The following is my translation of page 712 of the Zengo Kichigo Jiten.


As we age individually as humans we gradually become less self aware. Unfortunately, we will all grow older, and no matter how we try, we cannot prevent this from happening. If this is the way things are, there is a way to age well and continue to maintain a stout heart throughout life. As we look out over our surroundings, we can see many bright, wonderful elderly around us. That method is esteemed, and learning from that example all can learn to age gracefully.

The Hakurakuten song has the phrase 「松柏と亀鶴と其の寿は皆の千年」Shouhaku to Kikaku to, Sono Ju wa Minna no Sennen. This means through one year to live long and abundantly like the deep green pines, deciduous trees, turtle and crane. The phrase 「亀鶴の寿」Kikaku no Ju are also the words to celebrate a long life. Furthermore, the long word「亀齢鶴算白頭翁」Kireikakusannhakutouou means to live long like the turtle and the crane by ones head displaying white is a genuine saying for longevity.

In any case, living a long life is a reason of celebration in of itself. Year by year all should feel the blessing and enjoy life.

Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Millimeters Size in Inches

天 Ten 112 339.36 13.36

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 10 30.3 1.19

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 77 233.31 9.19

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 108 327.24 12.88

柱 Pillars 9 27.27 1.07

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 7 21.21 0.84

地 Chi 58 175.74 6.92

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 95 287.85 11.33

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 295 893.85 35.19

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