In my country it started snowing last week!
冷静 (rei-sei) “serenity”
An original calligraphy work, available from my Etsy store.
An Introduction to Japanese Calligraphy (by my teacher)
I spent a long time thinking about what to write for my first article about Japanese calligraphy. There is so much to say, it's difficult to know where to start. Then I remembered that my teacher had once written a short introduction to Japanese calligraphy, which I had translated into English. What better way toContinue reading "An Introduction to Japanese Calligraphy (by my teacher)"
紅葉 (kō-yō) “Red autumn leaves”
Japan is famous for its annual “cherry blossom season”. 🌸 Less well known is that autumn leaves are also widely celebrated. 🍁 Many people take trips to famous temples and shrines, parks and forests, in order to see the beautiful autumn colours. 🍂
縁 (en) “destined (to be together)”
This work was a wedding gift. 縁 (en) can refer to destiny in general, but it often has romantic connotations.... something like "star-crossed lovers", destined to be together for all eternity.
十人十色 (jū-nin-tō-iro) “Each to their own”
The kanji in this well-known Japanese idiom are: 十 = ten 人 = people 十 = ten 色 = colour(s) So literally: “ten people, ten colours”
秋高気爽 (shū-kō-ki-sō) “fresh autumn breeze”
秋 = autumn 高 = high (refers to the sky here) 気 = air 爽 = refreshing
一葉知秋 (ichi-yō-chi-shū) “from just one leaf one can know that autumn has come”
一 = one 葉 = leaf 知 = to know 秋 = autumn This phrase is about understanding the essence, changes, or decline of things from noticing slight signs or phenomena. It refers to realising the arrival of autumn by observing a single leaf fall.
霜月 (shimotsuki) “November” (archaic) (literally “the month of frost”)
Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally "Month one", February is "Month two", etc: 一月 = January 二月 = February However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar toContinue reading "霜月 (shimotsuki) “November” (archaic) (literally “the month of frost”)"
花火（hanabi) “fireworks”
Like many celebrations across the world, fireworks often play a part in Japanese festivities. In Japan, they are most commonly associated with summer festivals. I chose to write this word because in my home country of the UK it was Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes’ Night) on November 5th. This night marks the anniversary of aContinue reading "花火（hanabi) “fireworks”"
Calligraphy by Vicky 