{"product_id":"zen-brushwork-focusing-the-mind-with-calligraphy-and-painting","title":"Zen Brushwork: Focusing the Mind with Calligraphy and Painting","description":"\u003cp\u003eWith its bold strokes and mystic aura  Zen calligraphy has fascinated Westerners for decades  yet it remains an abstract  rarely practiced form of expression outside of Asia. Now  master calligrapher Tanchu Terayama explains the techniques behind this subtle art and offers step-by-step instructions for practicing it on a professional level.  After introducing the basics  Terayama presents a unique meditative warm-up to establish the proper mental attitude needed to release ones creative energies. Next  the power of the brushed line is explained and demonstrated. What makes a good line or a bad one  an expressive effort or an unfocused one? Lessons on brushing symbolic Japanese characters follow  including those for \"emptiness \" \"nothingness \" and \"flower.\" The painting section shows readers how to draw the spare yet elegant pictorial themes of this classic art: bamboo  plum blossoms  Mount Fuji  and the inspirational Zen priest Daruma.  If the exercises are the heart of the book  the Appreciation section is the soul. This chapter introduces classic works from renowned priests and other historical figures  including Miyamoto Musashi (the celebrated swordsman and author of The Book of Five Rings)  Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of aikido)  Jigoro Kano (the father of judo)  and Zen priest Hakuin. Each masterpiece is accompanied by penetrating commentary on the strengths and salient features of the work.  Rarely has Zen calligraphy been demonstrated and discussed with such candor and insight. Illuminating yet another side of Zen  Zen Brushwork will be an invaluable source to those interested in meditation  Zen  Buddhism  the martial arts  and Oriental traditions in general.  CONTENTS Introduction Part I Background What is Zen Calligraphy? The Evolution of Kanji The Fundamentals of Calligraphy The Four Treasures of Calligraphy Hitsuzendo  Part II Preparation-Warming Up and Developing Ki The Zen Line Yoki-ho: A Method of Developing Ki and Warming-Up warm-up exercise 1: Yoki-ho: The Long Version warm-up exercise 2: The Short Form of Yoki-ho: A Five-Minute Exercise warm-up exercise 3: Kusho: Writing in the Air  Part III Zen Calligraphy and Painting Basic Practice The Zen Line and Its Applications exercise 1: Mujibo (The Zen Line) exercise 2: Enso (The Zen Circle) exercise 3: Horizontal and Vertical Lines exercise 4: Fine Lines Tensho (Seal Script) exercise 5: So (Grass) and a Practice Line Kaisho (Standard Script) exercise 6: Sho (Calligraphy) and Practice Lines  Further Practice Sosho (Grass Script) exercise 7: Mu (Nothing) exercise 8: Hana (Flower) exercise 9: Ku (Emptiness) exercise 10: Mu Ichi Motsu (Owning No-thing) exercise 11: Ichigyo Zanmai (Be in the Moment) Writing Western Script exercise 12: Writing Western Script: ABC exercise 13: Shodo (Calligraphy)  Painting exercise 14: Orchid exercise 15: Bamboo exercise 16: Plum Blossoms (with inscription) exercise 17: Mount Fuji exercise 18: Daruma exercise 19: Wall-Gazing Daruma exercise 20: \"One-Stroke\" Daruma exercise 21: Ji-Wa-Choku (Compassion  Harmony  Honesty)  Part IV Appreciation Works by Old Masters Works by Terayama Tanchu Glossary  What is Zen Calligraphy? Calligraphy (sho) is a formative art based on writing. It includes not only writing that is beautiful  but phrases that are novel and interesting. According to the Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945; see figure 1)  true creativity is not the product of a conscious effort but rather the \"phenomenon of life itself.\" True creation must arise from mu-shin  or the state of \"no-mind \" a state beyond thought  emotions  and expectations. Work that is produced through conscious effort is ultimately devoid of life.  Zen calligraphy in particular must spring from shonen sozoku  a Buddhist term equivalent to \"true thought.\" Shonen is a state of full concentration that is devoid of thoughts and ideas  while sozoku here means \"free-flowing continuity.\" Greatness in brushwork cannot be achieved through conscious effort; it is only achieved through the states of mu-shin and shonen sozuku  or \"no-mind\" and a continuous state free of the thoughts and ideas that distract the mind.  Zen calligraphy differs from other calligraphic disciplines as it is focused on the realization of \"no-mind.\" Furthermore  in contrast tosho  which uses Chinese characters as a basis  it is the expression of Zen through a brush  whether the result is a single stroke  a Zen circle  or an ink painting. While sho is restricted to brushed writing  Zen calligraphy extends to other forms of brushwork.  Nearly all calligraphy today is born of conscious attention to an aesthetic concept  but we rarely find lines that are truly alive. In contrast  the calligraphy of Zen masters such as Daito Kokushi (1282-1337; founder of Daitokuji temple in Kyoto) or Ikkyu Sojun (1394-1481) resonates with the energy of \"no-mind\" achieved through complete concentration. In these works  the lines are filled with vitality and the shapes are fresh and origina\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44984008245301,"sku":"ByrdShop_4770029446","price":315.53,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9784770029447.jpg?v=1770818634","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/zen-brushwork-focusing-the-mind-with-calligraphy-and-painting","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}