Scroll Making Lecture/Demonstration

 On Friday Evening, December 31, 2010, I conducted a lecture and demonstration for a local Anime fan club. It was a good time and everyone said they learned something new and exciting. I am very happy to share my knowledge and experiences with those who have interest to learn.

The lecture consisted of very basic information about the history of scrolls in Japan, divergence and design, the various aspects of glue, paper and cloths used. The crowd also got to see different Jikusaki, Fuchin and Kakehimo.

In the first two pictures I am explaining the meaning of the Kanji on some different orders. Immediately below is working and explaining the various viscous glues, and the types of paper used to make the scrolls.

 

Next is the measuring and cutting of the Uruachi to be applied to the artwork.

 

Application of the glue can be very stressful, so as to get the right amount without causing wrinkles in the paper and other problems.

The Kinran and finished work and Ichimonji on the drying board completed the demonstration. In all I felt this was the most appropriate way to end the old year and start the new. In this year I am desirous to teach more classes on Kakejiku making. Some of you may be interested in purchasing my book How to Make Handmade Wallscrolls. For more details go to my webstore at http://www.wallscroll.blogspot.com/ or contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Blank Customer Wallscroll...

If the customer has the confidence to write, then they can order a blank scroll. I can just imagine a rabbit going on here for this years sign of the Zodiac...

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 

What do you think will go on the scroll?

This turned out beautifully, with the Brown Ichimonji in the Maru Hyougu style. After the Fuchin Arrive I will take a better picture and then ship it off to the Land Down Under.
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Centimeters Size in Inches


天                   Ten                    114
上一文字       Ue Ichimonji         14

紙本の幅さ    Artwork Width    113

紙本の長さ   Artwork Length     323

柱                  Pillars                      15

下一文字      Shita Ichimonji           8

地                  Chi                           85

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width          143

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length         544

Did I disappear...

I have been busy with several scrolls this month. I should have three posted by next week and that will everyone something new to look at for the new year...

Jonathan Maples

Customer Order Shikishi 色紙

This customer wanted her name written in the Sousho style. They also wanted it in Gyousho, but I am showing the Sousho form. They already had a Japanese name, so there was not translation involved, just verification of the correct Characters. If you are interested in an order contact http://www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/

Scroll or Kakejiku with Enso Circle & Taoist Phrase

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 

贈呈は初まりと終わり。


人格の道。

五息により幕を除去し、光空の門に導かれる。

Reading in Romanized Japanese:

Zoutei wa Hajimari to Owari.

Jinkaku no Michi.

Goiki ni Yori Maku wo Jokyo shi,

Hikari Sora no Mon ni

Michibikareru.

According to the customer, this is a Taoist phrase used in their karate dojo training. Thankfully the customer guided me to some correct words. The translation took much guidance from the customer because I was using particles that were not necessary at times and I used the word Present as in tense or now, but the word was actually to mean gift or a thing presented to someone else.

What I liked about this scroll  or Kakejiku is Yoshimi’s ability to balance everything in the writing, which included the writing of Enso in the top left corner (facing away from the scroll), the Large Enso Circle, with the signature to the right and then the writing in a Gyousho, semi-cursive style. This was more writing than we have usually put on a scroll, and the phrase underneath was written with a Hosofude, or thin brush. It is our ideal to provide what the customer wants within reason.

The Katana and Wakizashi are more appropriate for this display as the Dojo from the Great Lakes Region of the US, trains in the sword arts. He gave me a beautiful essay and write up on some of the philosophies they used, but being a laic in regards to martial arts, I honestly only understood about 65% of the essay. But what new things I did learn were very enlightening, particularly the new sword vocabulary in Japanese.
The customer chose a wine color cloth, and it is complemented the Enso circle along with a beautiful high gloss black lacquer wood jikusaki that has a gold band around the outer edge. The scroll includes a Gold Kakehimo with a white arrow pattern in it giving it a distinct look. The deep gold Ichimonji seems to help provide a good contrast between the work and the Kireji. The scroll is in the Maru Hyougu style with the following Dimensions in the traditional Japanese measurement of 分 Bun.
天  Ten                                   111
上一文字 Ue Ichimonji           12.5
紙本幅 Shihon Habasa          109
紙本長 Shihon Nagasa          210
柱 Hashira                               17
下一文字 Shita Ichimonji          9
地 Chi                                     70
掛け軸幅さ Scroll Width       143
掛け軸長さ Scroll Length      417.5
If you have interest in designing a scroll, order online at http://www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/ or e-mail me and ask me for a free scroll design workbook at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Two Martial Arts Dojo Scrolls

琉球本拳法



沖縄白鶴拳法

This customer sent an order directly online via my shopping site at http://ww.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com/  I think these turned out beautifully for him.

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 first scroll on the left (if facing away from the scrolls) reads Ryukyu Hon Kenpo, which means the True Kenpo of the Ryukyu islands. The scroll on the right reads Okinawa Shirodzuru Kenpo. This could be translated as Okinawan White Crane Kenpo.

The scrolls are written in the Sousho or full cursive style which provides a very beautiful flowing ideal to the work. I must respect Yoshimi for being able to take one phrase that contains 5 characters and one phrase that contains 6 characters and write them very symmetrically on the same size of paper. I used a red-orange Ichimonji to provide the imagery of a sunset on the backdrop of a green Okinawan island set in the Pacific.

The katana and wakizashi may not be the most authentic accent to put in a display with scrolls conveying an Okinawan theme. A better weapon choice may have been an Eiku, Tonfa or Nunchaku, but we must make do with what we have. I thank Sylvan and Hiromi Pickett for allowing me to borrow these for this display picture.

This is the basic Maru Hyougu style and dimensions in the traditional Bun分 measurement set forth with other dimensions as approximations.

• 天　Ten                          　 83
• 上一文字 Ue Ichimonji   14
• 紙本幅 Shihon Habasa    50
• 紙本長 Shihon Nagasa  226
• 柱 Hashira                       12.5
• 下一文字 Shita Ichimonji  9
• 地 Chi                             　　42
• 掛け軸幅さ　Total Scroll Width            75
• 掛け軸長さ　Total Scroll Length         377

意気衝天 Ikishouten (High Spirits)

This scroll is for sale. Although there were quite a few problems, and still some slight "Uki" in the scroll, it turned out all right. It was written by my wife, Ryugyoku, and the inkan or chop will be applied soon.

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 meaning of the phrase ikishouten is listed in one online dictionary as High Spirits. I think it is better to look at it as having such conviction that it feels like being lifted into Heaven.

The first thing to be aware, is this is not a true Fukuro Hyougu style scroll. A true Fukuro Hyougu scroll does not have an Ichimoji section on the scroll. I wanted to do something a little different. I think the black suji provides a subtle transition between the cloths. I hope you feel the same.










Here are the Dimensions leading with the traditional　分 Bun measurement.　筋 suji were all done in 1 bun measurements.


Ten 天　　　　　　　　　　　149　（98＆51)
Ue Ichimonji　　　　　　上一文字　　　　　　　　　8
Artwork Width　　　　　紙本の幅さ　　　　　　　　77
Artwork Length　　　　　紙本の長さ　　　　　　　106
Hashira　　　　　　　　柱　　　　　　　　　　　　23
Shita Ichimonji　　　　　下一文字　　　　　　　　　4
Chi　　　　　　　　　　地　　　　　　　　　　　　80　（25＆55)
Total Scroll Length　　　掛け軸長さ　　　　　　　　347
Total Scroll Width　　　　掛け軸幅さ　　　　　　　　123