Custom Shikishi for Hanging Wall Scroll

This Christmas gift was from a mother who has a son that studies about the Kaizen system of Continuous Improvement. It was done in the Kaisho style, which seems fitting for this word. I have just ordered the cloth to make the scroll with and will be exicted to get this finished for their Christmas present.

If you would like a custom scroll or Japanese Calligraphy writing made, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or visit our webstore at http://www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/

Second Scroll with Name

This is the second scroll with a name on it. I love this cloth....it is a very beautiful plum color with an ivy/flower design. As a result I used a flower pattern in the Ichimonji to give a similar effect. The writing is done in a Gyousho, semi cursive style. You can see the cloth and Jikusaki upclose here.
Scroll Dimensions as follows:
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun (Inches)


天 Ten 105 (12.53)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 11 (1.31)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 76 (9.07)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 105 (12.53)

柱 Pillars 23.5 (2.80)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 6 (0.72)

地 Chi 68 (8.11)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 123 (14.67)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 295 (35.19)

If you would like a custom scroll ordered for your personal use or business, please contact Jonathan Maples at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or visit my website at http://www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/
 
Other name scrolls are listed here:
http://www.wallscroll.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-name-in-japanese-kakejiku.html

http://wallscroll.blogspot.com/2009/09/welchko-last-name-translation.html
http://www.wallscroll.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-name-written-on-shikishi.html

First Name written on Shikishi

These shikishi 色紙 were made for gifts. The writing is the name of the customers mother. It is done in semi-cursive style called gyousho 行書. If you are interested in ordering a gift of calligraphy contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or go to our website online at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com. Other gift name ideas can be found at the following:
http://www.wallscroll.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-name-in-japanese-kakejiku.html
http://wallscroll.blogspot.com/2009/09/welchko-last-name-translation.html
   

Meikyou Shisui Wallscroll for Kendo 明鏡止水掛け軸

This scroll is going to the Pacific Northwest. It is written in the gyousho semi-cursive style and I used the blue cloth in both the Kireji and Ichimonji to represent the water in the scroll. It is accompanied by a Kogecha Kakehimo and a Kokutan (Ebony) Jikusaki. This customer also ordered a beautiful Kiribako (wood box) to go with the scroll. This phrase is used in Kendo and I am using the following source. http://www.kendo-guide.com/
Meikyo-shisui is a very good expression to know how our mind should be. Let me explain what kanjis mean. Meikyo means "a clear mirror". It is a clean mirror so you see no dust, clouds or condensation on it. The kanji itself says, "shining mirror". So you can imagine how clean the mirror is. Shisui means "the water that is not moving", the still water. If the water is still, completely still, it can reflect anything like a mirror. So what do you think it means? So what kind of state of mind is it when it is like the really clean mirror and the still water? When a mirror is dirty or it has something on it, it does not reflect things as it should. So it is not working as it is supposed to do. When your mind is not clear, your mind does not work as it is supposed to, either. Moreover, when your mind is not clear or clean, it is usually mean that something evil thing is going on in your mind. So there are two meanings in keeping your mind as clear as a clean shining mirror. One is that your mind and head is so sharp and clear that you will not misjudge anything. Another meaning is that you do not have any evil thoughts in you.

Scroll Dimensions as follows:
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun (Inches)


天 Ten 115 (13.72)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 12 (1.43)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 53 (6.32)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 206 (24.57)

柱 Pillars 15 (1.79)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 8 (0.95)

地 Chi 73 (8.71)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 83 (9.90)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 414 (49.39)


地 Chi 73 8.71

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 83 9.90

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 414 49.39


 

First Name in Japanese Kakejiku

This wallscroll was ordered for a person who commissioned two scrolls for a wife's and daughter's first name. The first one is with a beautiful light pink Kireji (cloth) that is a silk. The pattern in the cloth is a faint, wispy line, so I tried to use the complementary flowing lines in the ichimonji to complement the design of the cloth.

In most situations, customers do not order special Kakehimo. Hanging thread, but in this case the customer put a lot of thought and ordered the Sakura, which is a pink thread with dark fleck design. It went really well with the scroll, and makes it that much better in my opinion. The shitan (rosewood) jikusaki also provides a good dark color to contrast well with the light pink.

The writing is done in a semi-cursive style called gyousho. It is a very nice design for this scroll. Dimensions of the scroll are listed below. If you would like to order a custom handmade scroll, contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or visit to www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com Other name scrolls can be viewed here. http://wallscroll.blogspot.com/2010/08/martial-art-scroll-for-first-name.html or here http://wallscroll.blogspot.com/2010/01/three-first-name-translations-into.html

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	105	12.53
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	11	1.31
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	76	9.07
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	105	12.53
柱	Pillars	23.5	2.80
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	6	0.72
地	Chi	68	8.11
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	123	14.67
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	295	35.19

Suiseki Display Scroll

This was a commissioned scroll and is already sold. If you would like to purchase a custom kakejiku, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or visit our online store at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com 

This customer ordered a scroll specifically to display with a Suiseki. We consulted on various aspects, and they chose to do it in a Nidan Hyougu (Two Step) style of scroll. My only concern is that my display Sensei dislikes the use of darker kireji (cloths) as he says it distracts from the main Suiseki/bonsai.

With that said, I think it is a pretty color combination with the gold to brown transition, giving it an earthy feel that could be matched well with the rock. The Enso, was also selected from some my wife, Ryugyoku had drawn previously. The scroll is complemented with a beautiful pair of Ebony (Kokutan) jikusaki and Kincha (Dark Gold) hanging string.

Dimensions are listed below:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	115	13.72
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	43	5.13
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	89	10.62
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	67	7.99
柱	Pillars	13	1.55
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	27	3.22
地	Chi	75	8.95
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	115	13.72
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	327	39.01

Kakejiku - The Way of Inner Strength

If you would like to commission your own Martial Arts Scroll, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

These three scrolls were commissioned as gifts. It reads "Seishin Ryoku Dou". The Karateka purchasing the scrolls wanted the phrase "Way of Inner Strength" translated into Japanese. We went through several iterations, until Yoshimi decided upon using Seishin 精神, which can mean Spirit, Soul, Mind, Heart, or Intention. Those words embody everything that is internal and spiritual. The Ryoku 力 is Strength, and many people are familiar with Dou 道 as "The Way".

The writing is done in a beautiful gyousho semi-cursive style, and each one is unique because they are slightly different. The cloth selected by the customer has a beautiful large blue pattern on a gold/brown background.

The scrolls are not exactly uniform in size or length, because they are being given as gifts, and so will hang in separate locations. Had they been hung together like the panther and dragon scrolls, I would have measured more precisely. Approximate dimensions listed below:
Dimensions


Name in Kanji Name in English Size Bun (Inches)

天 Ten 100 (11.93)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 10 (1.19)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 53 (6.32)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 217 (25.89)

柱 Pillars 12 (1.43)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 6 (0.72)

地 Chi 65 (7.75)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 77 (9.19)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 398 (47.48)

菊松道場 Kiku Matsu Dojo Hanging Wall Scroll

This customer ordered with a tight deadline and I was really worried whether it would be ready or not...but the scroll was just shipped this afternoon. This is a long thin scroll, with the Name of the Dojo in Gyousho or Semi-cursive style Japanese Calligraphy. I think the cloth is beautiful, and that is why I took a closeup of the cloth. It is styled with a deep gold on gold karakusa Ichimonji that transitions well into the green kireji. It is completed with a black lacquer wood jikusaki and a Takuboku design kake/makihimo.

Dimensions as follows:
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Inches


天 Ten 115 13.72

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 11 1.31

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 54 6.44

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 218 26.01

柱 Pillars 16.5 1.97

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 7 0.84

地 Chi 75 8.95

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 87 10.38

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 426 50.82