August 2011 書道 Shodou Submissions Results

These are the results of various students studying under Yoshimi Maples. I think August was a very good month for the results of the students.


Student A- Kaisho Rank Nikyu placed 31^st out of 54 submissions

Student	Kaisho	Gyousho/Sousho	Comments
Student A	31st out of 50+ Students	5th out of 40+ Students	Rank Advanced to 1st  Kyuu. Congratulations
Student B	16 out of  30 Students	Not Applicable
Student C	2 out of 21 Students	Not Applicable	Picture was placed in the Booklet & Rank Advancement to 7th Kyuu Congratulations

If you have questions about becoming a Japanese Calligraphy student with Yoshimi Maples, please email to info@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

昨夜一声の雁 Sakuya Issei no Kari

This is the last scroll made for this Autumn themed phrase/poem. It is written by Yoshimi Yamada Maples. The picture was drawn by a third party....
Yes, it is probably better to just have the calligraphy, but most Americans like the visual.
The Purple cloth could possibly go well with a Susuki or Japanese Maple. I just wonder if the color of the scroll would interfere with the colors of the plants.

Full meaning of the poem is below:
Excerpt translated from pg. 330 of the Zengo Kichigo Jiten 禅語吉語字典 published by the Japan Calligraphy Society 日本書道協会.


昨夜一声の雁

Sakuya Issei no Kari (Last night I Heard the Wild Goose Honking)

Subtitle: There Were Small Predictors of Change

The seasons change a little at a time. But because of the nature of these small changes we are not aware of the transition, until the new season is upon us. This is similar to what happens in our personal lives.

After this verse there is an extended line in the poetry which reads, 「清風万里秋」Seifuu Banri Aki. This means that after you wake up in the morning after hearing the goose honking to begin the migration you feel the crisp autumn wind on your face and are reminded that fall has arrived.

As autumn approaches the wild geese gather into flocks and begin to fly South. That honking is an indicator communicating to our hearts the fall season. The Issei in the verse is expounded to teach us that it only takes one goose to sound the honk to gather the birds into a flock. They gather quickly in the evening, begin the migration, and by the morning all that remains of their presence are the crisp autumn winds in your face.

Another deeper meaning of this verse is that through one act alone all things can begin to move. It reminds us that through the honking of only one goose, we can feel the effects of the fall wind. It is this one act that reminds us that the season, predicted to transform is actually already surrounding us in its entirety and only now have we become aware.

Dimensions

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

天 Ten 115 348.45 13.72

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 11 33.33 1.31

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 69 209.07 8.23

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 107.5 325.725 12.82

柱 Pillars 20.5 62.115 2.45

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 6 18.18 0.72

地 Chi 80 242.4 9.54

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 110 333.3 13.12

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 319.5 968.085 38.11

古流盆栽教室 Ancient Bonsai Studio Wallscroll

This kakejiku or wallscroll was a custom order from the Bonsai in the Bluegrass convention and is already sold. It reads phonetically in Japanese as Koryuu Bonsai Kyoushitsu. There were two challenges in getting this translation accurate. The first was the word ancient. I knew one word for this and it was 古代 Kodai. But had we used this word the context would have meant in a historical, and not artistic sense. My wife had a more colloquial suggestion in using Ryuu. Ryuu is a designation of a school, sect, philosophy, or methodology for an art. A conversation may go as follows:

Nakano San: 空手をします。Karate wo shimasu. (I do Karate)

Tanaka San: どんな流派ですか。 Don na ryuuha desuka? (Which style do you study?)

Nakano San: 松涛館です。Shoutoukan desu. (The shoutoukan style.)

In other words Yoshimi’s translation has individualized the scroll to not only be the name of the company or school, but could also become his own bonsai school of philosophy in the future depending on use of the term.

The second dilemma was the word studio. There could have been many translations such as 校kou for a more formal school, but I opted to go with the word used by my Sensei for his scroll classroom which is Kyoushitsu and would literally be translated as teaching room, but is the word studio in most online dictionaries.

The writing is done in a Gyousho, semi-cursive style. The scroll cloths consist of a light Ichimonji that has flowing gold & silver lines which reminded me of the delicately styled bonsai branches. The brown cloth, although not as dark as the décor of his studio, will hopefully be a good transition color between the lighter color wall and the darker floor. (Only after hanging the scroll in the room will we be sure if this was correct or not.) The cloth does have a lotus flower design, a common Buddhist symbol, and it is capped at the top with a 金茶 Kincha or Dark Gold hanging string and the軸先 Jikusaki  (end pieces at the bottom) are a beautiful but simple wood laquer 軸木黒塗り.   

Scroll dimensions are as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Millimeters	Size in Inches
天	Ten	98	296.94	11.69
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	11	33.33	1.31
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	54	163.62	6.44
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	221	669.63	26.36
柱	Pillars	12	36.36	1.43
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	6	18.18	0.72
地	Chi	70	212.1	8.35
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	78	236.34	9.30
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	406	1230.18	48.43

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

Sousho Shodo Kakejiku Endless Mind

This calligraphy was written by a student of Yoshimi, who also studies with another Calligraphy Sensei. Student said the meaning was to the extent of Endless Mind or Soul. She chose this one as the best work to frame. I had a difficult time with the Hada Urauchi....So unfortunately she will likely need to place the Hanko to the left of her Signature, which was unfortunate.

The cloth has a slight Lotus Flower design, which made it appropriate for hanging in the Buddhist Monastery to which she is gifting the scroll. It is highlighted with a beautiful kurenai/Chairoi lacquer wood jikusaki that has gold fleck in it.

If you would like to order a custom scroll there are three ways to get started: 1. Go to my shopping site at http://www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/ 2. Download my scroll design workbook from my website at http://www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/ to read about the concepts behind kakejiku or wallscroll design. 3. E-mail to me directly at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Customer Response to Scroll

This is a response from a customer along with my reply. I guess sometimes I get too hard on myself about seeing every little flaw and mistake.

Dear Jonathan,

I have received the package today and I am very happy with the result. Maybe it is not “great” as you mentioned, but to my opinion it is at least very good!
I gave it to my friend this evening and also he was very happy with it.
Thank you very much for making this custom scroll.
Best regards,

I am glad your friend is appreciative of the gift. Probably like yourself in Martial Arts I seek for perfection in my work, which sometimes hinders my ability to see the overall good and focus only on minor flaws.
Regards,


Jonathan Maples


表装師-Hyousoushi
Custom Japanese Calligraphy
www.CustomJapaneseCalligraphy.com
www.Wallscroll.Blogspot.com
545 West 600 North
St. George UT 84770
Phone: 435-656-1870

Banzenkan New Dojo Scroll

This custom designed handmade wallscroll went to the Seattle Tacoma area for a new dojo that is opening it's doors. If you would like to order a custom scroll there are three ways to get started: 1. Go to my shopping site at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com 2. Download my scroll design workbook from my website at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com to read about the concepts behind kakejiku or wallscroll design. 3. E-mail to me directly at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com  Banzenkan is written in Gyousho style. Banzen means perfection or flawlessness and kan is a meeting place or hall. Kouminkan is a public hall or gathering place. I used a dark gold Ichimonji with a karakusa pattern to make the dark brown cloth stand out. The scroll is completed with plastic Jikusaki and a dark gold Kakehimo. Hopefully the students will adhere to the dictum of the statement and try to attain perfection in their Martial Arts studies in this study hall. Scroll dimensions are given in Bun, and inches below.

Writing was done by Ryugyoku, "Yoshimi Yamada Maples".

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	107	12.76
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	7.5	0.89
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	46	5.49
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	107	12.76
柱	Pillars	24	2.86
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	5	0.60
地	Chi	65	7.75
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	94	11.21
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	291.5	34.77