Friday, July 25, 2014

Sales for Calligraphy Practice

This was a piece written by Yoshimi Yamada Maples, for a person in the Western States who would like to practice Japanese calligraphy. It is written in the Kaisho style.
 
全汝形,抱汝生,勿使汝思慮營營。

Literally, this means: "Perfect you form, protect your life; do not let your thoughts be agitated"

Thomas Merton, the translator whose version you cite, is taking a bit of liberty with the text. The Chinese is more terse. 
 
The Thomas Merton translation is 
"Hold your being secure and quiet.  Keep your life collected in its own center."
 
Meanings of individual character is 
全 【ぜん】 (n) (1) all; whole; entire; complete; overall
【い; しゃ】 (n) (arch) (vulg) you
形 【かた; がた】 (n,suf) (1) (がた when a suffix) (See ・1) shape; appearance; (2) collateral; (3) (See ・ぜに・1) obverse of an old "zeni" coin
抱え 【かかえ】 (n) (1) armful; (2) employee
生 【せい; しょう】 (n) (1) life; living; (n,n-suf) (2) (せい only) (male) (hum) I; me; myself
【なかれ】 (prt) must not; do not
使 【し】 (n) (1) messenger; (2) (abbr) (See 検非違使) police and judicial chief (Heian and Kamakura periods); (3) {Buddh} (See 煩悩・2) klesha (polluting thoughts such as greed, hatred and delusion, which result in suffering)
思う To think
思慮 【しりょ】 (n,vs) prudence
 營Unknown in Japanese
 

Monday, July 21, 2014

Blank Scroll for Artist

This scroll was ordered at the Utah Asian Festival. They wanted something simple for their calligraphy. I am very glad with the way this turned out. It is done in the Maru Hyougu style on paper. The cloth is a benberugu shike. The Ichimonji is a Kinran cloth with a large gold karakusa on a Green color. The jikusaki are an ivory plastic and it is completed with an Usukin (light gold) hanging string.

If you are an artist and would like a blank wallscroll made for you, please inquire to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Dimensions of the scroll as follows.

Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Inches
Ten 102 12.17
上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 13.5 1.61
紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 74.5 8.89
紙本の長さ Artwork Length 107 12.76
Pillars 6 0.72
下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 9 1.07
Chi 55 6.56
掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 86.5 10.32
掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 286.5 34.18

Friday, July 11, 2014

Persimmon Scroll Update

This Persimmon Scroll just sold...and is no longer available.