New Year is a massive celebration in Japan. Most people take time off work, visit their family, eat loads of good food, and go to their local shrine to pray for good luck for the upcoming year. If you're learning Japanese you probably learnt: "Happy New Year!" = あけましておめでとうございます！ (a-ke-ma-shi-te o-me-de-to go-za-i-ma-su) This is correct,Continue reading "あけおめ (a-ke-o-me) Happy New Year!"
一期一会 (ichi-go-ichi-e) “treasure every moment”
一 = one 期 = occasion 一 = one 会 = encounter Each moment is a unique treasure. This idiom, which was voted as Japan’s favourite, is often used to show gratitude for the opportunity to meet someone wonderful who enriches our lives. This phrase serves as a reminder that, if we make the mostContinue reading "一期一会 (ichi-go-ichi-e) “treasure every moment”"
七転八起 “fall down 7 times, get up 8 times”
七 = seven 転 = fall down 八 = eight 起 = get up In other words, “fall down seven times, get up eight times”, or “even if you fail a lot, don’t give up!” In life and in business you will almost certainly fail many times. Encountering setbacks is inevitable, and those who succeedContinue reading "七転八起 “fall down 7 times, get up 8 times”"
on different calligraphy styles
Japanese calligraphy is a very restrictive form of art. The artist is constrained by the shape of the Japanese kanji characters. However, within these tight restraints there is opportunity for freedom and expression. The kanji characters can be written in different styles, with different ink types and colours, different colours and textures of paper, etc.Continue reading "on different calligraphy styles"
Calligraphy works for sale!
In Japan, calligraphy works of meaningful characters or phrases are displayed in homes, offices, temples and dōjōs as decoration and to provide inspiration. If you would like to own some Japanese calligraphy artwork to display in your home or office, check out my Etsy site for a selection of ready-made calligraphy works. Below is aContinue reading "Calligraphy works for sale!"
道 (dō) “Way”, “Route”, “The Tao”
This is the “-dō” in the Japanese martial arts of judo, kendo and aikido, as well as shodo (calligraphy), sado (tea ceremony) and many others. Loosely translated, it means “way”, “route”, “path” or “doctrine”. Studying a Japanese art is considered similar to taking a journey up a mountain. The summit is the refinement of oneself,Continue reading "道 (dō) “Way”, “Route”, “The Tao”"
陰陽 (in-yo) “Yin and Yang” ***free wallpaper!***
Yin is dark, cold, receptive, magnetic. Yang is light, hot, giving, active. Both are present in everything. Day is Yang, Night is Yin. But during an active Yang day, one will have periods of still, receptive Yin rest. Yin/Yang is an important concept in Japanese art. In calligraphy, outward brush-strokes are Yang and should beContinue reading "陰陽 (in-yo) “Yin and Yang” ***free wallpaper!***"
気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy”
Japanese martial arts practitioners often give a loud quick shout as they perform an attacking move. This shout is a 気合 (ki-ai), often translated as “meeting of spirit”. This ki is the ki in aikido, qigong, and reiki. Ki is a central principle in traditional Chinese medicine and Eastern martial arts. It has been translatedContinue reading "気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy”"
日進月歩 (nis-shin-gep-po) “slow and steady progress”
This Japanese phrase is a 四字熟語 ("yo-ji-juku-go"), a 4-character idiom. The characters in this 4-character idiom are: 日 sun or day 進 continue 月 moon or night 歩 walk or step = continue, step by step, every day and night. This is often how I feel when I’m learning Japanese. Progress is so slow, butContinue reading "日進月歩 (nis-shin-gep-po) “slow and steady progress”"
一生懸命 (is-shou-ken-mei) “with utmost effort”
Japanese learners will no doubt be familiar with this one. This is the first yo-ji-juku-go (Japanese 4-character idiom) I ever learnt, and for ages I wasn’t aware of it being an idiomatic expression at all. It’s presented in Japanese textbooks as being a regular adjective with a meaning of something like “with utmost effort”. However, it isContinue reading "一生懸命 (is-shou-ken-mei) “with utmost effort”"
Calligraphy by Vicky 