一 = one 日 = day 一 = one 歩 = step I decided to write this classic Japanese 4-character idiom because it’s January and many people are thinking about their goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. At the moment I’m reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. This book says that instead of setting largeContinueContinue reading “一日一歩 (ichi-nichi-ip-po) “one step at a time””
Tag Archives: Calligraphy
兎 / 卯 (u-sa-gi) “rabbit”
Like many East Asian countries, each year in Japan is represented by one of 12 animals. These animals are part of a divination system called “eto”. In English it’s often called “Chinese Zodiac”. 2023 is the year of the rabbit. In Japanese, the Chinese Zodiac kanji of each animal is different from the regular kanjiContinueContinue reading “兎 / 卯 (u-sa-gi) “rabbit””
あけおめ (a-ke-o-me) Happy New Year!
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,ContinueContinue 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 mostContinueContinue 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 succeedContinueContinue 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.ContinueContinue 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 aContinueContinue 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,ContinueContinue 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 beContinueContinue 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 translatedContinueContinue reading “気 (ki) “spirit”, “energy””
Calligraphy by Vicky 