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