Tag Archives: 書道

勇 (yū) “courage” – the second virtue of 武士道 (bushidō)

Bushidō comes with a handy list of 8 virtues that one can follow to lead one’s best and most noble life. You may not have been born a samurai, but you can still live like one by following this code.

The second virtue is “Courage, the spirit of Daring and Bearing”.

These 8 virtues were first mentioned in Nitobe Inazao’s 1899 book “Bushido: the Soul of Japan”.

He describes “courage” as “bearing” as well as “daring”, which suggests that courage has a broader meaning than merely courage in battle; it also includes enduring difficult situations.

He goes on to say: “Courage was scarcely deemed worthy to be counted among virtues, unless it was exercised in the cause of Righteousness.” This implies that true courage comes from knowing what is right, having the clear-sightedness to understand one’s own values and to hold by them, whatever the situation. It is necessary for courage to be informed by 義 (gi) integrity .

義 (gi) “integrity” – the first virtue of 武士道 (bushidō)

The first virtue is ““Rectitude or Justice”, which I have “translated” as “integrity”, for reasons below:

Historically in Japan, opinion on what was “right” or “moral” was fairly uniform.

In modern Western countries, people of many different cultures and backgrounds live side by side, so it is neither possible nor desirable for individuals to always look to their societal norms for moral guidance. 

These days what is considered “right” is often something that one must decide for oneself.

However, the ideal of sticking to one’s values even when it is difficult is still considered a virtue: that of having personal integrity.

金 (kin) “Gold” or “Money”

It’s Golden Week in Japan! So I wrote “Gold”. “Golden Week” (Sometimes abbreviated to “GW”) is a week beginning 29th April, containing multiple public holidays in a row. This year, the dates of the holidays are: Saturday 29th April: Showa Day Wednesday 3rd May: Constitution Memorial Day Thursday 4th May: Greenery Day Friday 5th May:ContinueContinue reading “金 (kin) “Gold” or “Money””

皐月 (sa-tsu-ki) “May”

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is 一月 (ichi-gatsu, literally “Month one”), February is 二月 (ni-gatsu, “Month two”), etc. 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 to the FrenchContinueContinue reading “皐月 (sa-tsu-ki) “May””

桜 (sakura) “cherry blossom”

Here’s some seasonal calligraphy. It’s cherry blossom season in most of Japan at the moment. Cherry blossom is a sign of new life and new beginnings. In Japan the academic year begins in April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. I took this picture on the banks of the Meguro River, a veryContinueContinue reading “桜 (sakura) “cherry blossom””

美 (bi) “beauty”

The original of this work is available to purchase here on my Etsy site. WordPress users get 15% off with this code: WPCODE15 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 artworkContinueContinue reading “美 (bi) “beauty””

栄 “flourishing” or “prosperity”

This term can be used to describe both people and companies. It emphasises the importance of both personal and collective growth.  It also reflects the Japanese respect for hard work and perseverance, and the acknowledgement that long-term dedication to one’s goals can bring steady and lasting success. The original of this work is available to purchaseContinueContinue reading “栄 “flourishing” or “prosperity””

心 (kokoro) “heart-mind”

“Kokoro” can be translated variously as “heart,” “mind,” “spirit,” or “soul.” It refers to the innermost essence or core of a person, encompassing their emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. However, “kokoro” can also refer to a wider range of concepts, including the feelings and emotions of others, the collective consciousness or spirit of a group, andContinueContinue reading “心 (kokoro) “heart-mind””

悟 (satori) “enlightenment”

Satori (enlightenment) is often described as a sudden and profound realisation that goes beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding. It is a state of consciousness in which the individual transcends the limits of the ego and experiences a deep sense of oneness with the universe. Satori is not a fixed or permanent state, but rather aContinueContinue reading “悟 (satori) “enlightenment””