Shihan Kaku Rank Japanese Calligraphy Seasonal Scroll

This scroll was submitted in which her writing was deemed of quality to become the Shihan Rank in her calligraphy society. This scroll is not for sale. This is written in a mixed style called Gyousou which utilizes both Semi and Full-cursive styles.

This phrase is a stanza of a longer poem, and reads as follows.
照渓苦芳樹紅雲合迎客幽禽翠雨軽し
渓を照らす芳樹紅雲合し　客を迎える幽禽翠雨軽し　
けいをてらすほうじゅこううんがっし　きゃくをむかえるゆうきんすいうかるし
Kei wo Terasu Houjukouungasshi Kyaku wo Mukaeru Yuukinsuiukarushi

The meaning of this phrase as follows:

In the valley, the fragrance of the orchards wafts in the air, and crimson clouds gather. During the light rainfall, the beautiful birds come resting on the new green branches, which have awaited the return of their nimble visitors.

This was written in March preparatory to submission for the test submission in April. This evokes images of springtime in Japan. It would be a wonderful scroll to use for a bonsai display that utilizes an early springtime theme. The scroll is very long, about 10 feet in length, and my wife's first comment was that the Ten was too long. However, because a kakejiku is traditionally viewed from a seza kneeling position, I wanted to create a scroll that would be balanced and focus on the writing, following a more traditional design format.

I am very appreciative of the time and effort my wife expends on perfecting her writing. This scroll is my gift to her. I let her choose every aspect of the kireji, jikusaki, and kake/makihimo. The cloth has a green leaf pattern which is used for the viewer to have the image of the birds resting on the green branches. I had a red jikusaki to symbolize the crimson clouds, but Yoshimi opted for the black with gold band, which is a new addition to the inventory. The kakehimo is a white with Blue/Green speckle and was used to set it apart from the Shirocha (gold) that I normally use. This scroll took over three months start to finish, but has given me a great satisfaction upon completion.

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

Eiwa Haiku Wallscroll英和俳句掛け軸

This customer wanted a kakejiku 掛け軸that would take a haiku俳句 created in English and translated into Japanese. To get the proper translation it was difficult to follow the 5-7-5 On criteria. However, to capture the true meaning of the poem, we felt it was important to utilize a rule called jiamari 字余りto provide for accurate meaning of the poem.

The shodou is written in three lines, which contradicts Wikipedia’s statement that haiku are written in a single line. Ryugyoku used creative license to indent the first character of each line to emphasize each individual line in the poem. It was written in the Gyousho style with the smaller brush called Hosofude. The poem reads:

真の愛は特別　Makoto no Ai wa Tokubetsu

時に降りきり　Toki ni Orikiri

人生を変える　Jinsei wo Kaeru

(Because this scroll is a gift we will not post the English translation until a later time.)

The scroll is made with a taupe cloth in the Maru Hyougu 丸表具style. I used the gold clouds on red-orange to correlate the above haiku with another Japanese expression. 女心は秋の空 Onnagokoro wa Aki no Sora. This phrase means a woman’s mind changes as quickly as the Autumn sky (at sunset).This captures the essence of the fleeting nature of love. The scroll is accented with a beautiful Black lacquer Jikusaki with a gold band painted around the end. The customer also ordered a beautiful Fuchin that complements the Kireji color of the wallscroll.

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 

Summer Season Shodou Phrase

清風動脩竹


Sei Fuu Dou Shuu Chiku

The moving bamboo rustles by the blowing of the refreshing wind.

This is a phrase for the beginning of the summer season. Our feelings become invigorated when we visualize this type of refreshing landscape.

Shuuchiku means a bamboo that has grown long. Master Takuan said that this phrase is continued to then be written in reverse order as 脩竹動清風. The question of this phrase is whether the bamboo is moved by the wind, or is the bamboo moving making the wind. The separation of the cause and effect cannot be ascertained with the natural eye, but is only revealed to us through the profound diversity of the natural world. When the wind picks up enough to cause the greenery to rustle, this is called Seiseishii wind. As this type of wind blows the same feelings are tightened up within the self and cause an inner rustling like the bamboo. Furthermore, this makes one face former feelings.

Translated by Jonathan Maples from Page 326 of the Zengo Kichigo Jiten published by the Japanese Calligraphy Society.

Yin Yang Abstract--Unbalanced Nature

This 掛け軸 kakejiku  is a reflection of my feeling in life right now. The Yin Yang is seen as a symbol of opposites providing balance by integrating the differing ideas and feelings.

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 

The artist who drew this for me was able to take the idea and express it in the brushwork. For example, the characters are outfacing each other because if switched to face inwards, the two objects would repel and push away from each other. The opposing forces do not fit congruently. Additionally, one is drawn superior and one inferior. At all times one of the forces in nature is dominant.

The blue cloth is accented with swirling patterns to represent the dizzying relationships we must endure and can be tiring if looked or dealt with for long periods of time. The red Ichimonji provides a sense of ire, or anger at the world that is bottled up inside.

The scroll is 2.18 feet in length and very wide at 1.59 feet when compared to the length. This scroll is completed in the Maru Hyougu style and more detailed dimensions are listed below.

This scroll is for sale. For pricing inquiries please contact sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

掛け軸一つ目: Yin Yang Abstract


作成日Framing Complete Date: July 20, 2010

表具Scroll Style: 丸表具Maru Hyougu

寸法　Dimensions:　　天　84分

上一文字　11分

紙本長さ　64分

紙本幅さ　98分

下一文字　8分

地　52分

柱　31分(同様)

掛け物の長さ219分

掛け物の幅さ160分

Sumi-e Bamboo

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                                                                  This scroll was made from a bamboo sumi-e painting that was made over 10 years ago. It was drawn by Yoshimi Maples. This is done in the Maru hyougu style, but you will notice that the cloth used as the brocade borders the entire work. There is a 1 bun gold border between the Hashira and the Shihon.

The cloth color chosen is a khaki color. This is a very traditional cloth selection for a Japanese scroll. You may be asking yourself, why I have tried to imitate a Japanese style design for the scroll. It is because many American bonsai artists have complained about the following on my works.

A. The Shihon is too new and white

B. My cloth selections would not be appropriate for a formal Keido style Toko no Ma display.

Sometimes one does something to prove a point. That is this case. I have created a scroll to prove that I can make a Kakejiku in the traditional style. Usually I make pieces for my own joy, but in this case I am trying to satisfy other individual’s desires for what they want in a scroll. In a similar situation with the Martial Art's market, I did not get many sales until I started adopting traditional phrases such as the seven virtues of the Bushido, peace or harmony etc. I hope that the people will recognize that I am flexible enough to create a wallscroll that will fit their individual needs.

Name in Katakana

This customer requested a first name in Katakana...I do not know why it needed to be handwritten, because you could almost get the same effect by typing the name on the computer. But this is just a testament to me of how skilled my wife is at her calligraphy....

You will notice that the work has not Urauchi backing and there may be slight wrinkling in the future.