Calligraphy.

The origin of calligraphy in Japan goes back to the VI th century, when the Chinese ideograms have been introduced in the archipel. Calligraphy was first practised by the Buddist monks who were studying religious texts written in Chinese. It then spread among the scholar gentry classof the Imperial court.

Most Chinese ideograms combine a sementic element, giving a meaning to the word, and a phonetic element, indicating haow to pronounce it. This writing form is well adapted to the structure of the Chinese language, but not to the one of the Japanese language. Spoken Japanese language comprises several short syllables which sole purpose is to conjugate werbs (whereas there is no conjugation in Chinese) and clarify grammatical rules. This is why during the X th century Japanese calligraphy started to free itself from the Chinese Kanji characters with the apparition of the Kana syllabic characters (Hiragana and Katakana). The result is a highly sophisticated system with acquired with time is almost sacred status to the Japanese people.

Calligraphy is considered as the Supreme Art as it offers a much larger variety of styles than any other artistic form. Its mastership played a central role in the development of the Japanese civilisation.
Japanese people consider Calligraphy as the Art of transcending signs by giving them aestetic beauty, movement and energy which are no less important than the word itself for providing sense to the character. The calligrapher’s feelings, emotions and state of mind enter the character to create a unique artwork, impossible to reproduce.

Shodô (the Art of calligraphy, or litterally la Way of the Brush) aims to the mastership of the writing techniques together with the unique and creative expression of emotions.

Nowadays, the practice of calligraphy has an important position in the Japanese people’s life, from the childhood until the elderness. Many calligraphy contests are organinsed throughout the country at the local, regional or national level.
Calligraphy consists of painting characters with Chinese ink and a brush. Therefor the instruments are a brush, ink and paper.

The brush is made of a bamboo or wooden stick and a tip in different kinds of animal hair (badger, horse, wolf,…). The ink comes under the form of a solid block or stick which is diluted in water by the artist.
The paper, generally made of rice pulp, is more or less absorbant.
Choosing the brush (thick of thin, more or less flexible,…), preparing the ink (more or less diluted) and selecting the paper (more or less white, structured and absorbant) are all very important in regard with the aimed final result, since they participate to expressing the artist’s emotions.

Calligraphy can easily be compared to music, the notes being the meaning of the words, and the interpretation being the movement of the brush drawing a unique line with more or less strength, thickness, swiftness, roundness, vivacity and energy. Just like in music, it is not possible to come back to make corrections. Perfection must be achieved as soon as the brush tip touches the paper. This requires a mental preparation that can only be attained through the perfect mastership of the technique and the capability of changing one’s emotions into movements.

Calligraphy is the Art of the instant, for the eternity. During this creative instant, the Master becomes the movement of the brush, the ink that flows from the brush inside the paper, and the paper that absorbs the ink for fixing it forever.

Today in Japan, Shodo is highly normated and hierarchised. Yet the most creative modern Masters transcending the somehow rigid traditions and open novative perspective to this millenary Art.

These are those most creative Masters that Carré MOJI is bringing to you today.

Enter the fascinating world of Japanese Modern Calligraphy.
Beyound the characters, take the time to feel the feelings expressed by each Artwork. You will fing in it joy or gloom, calm or action, vividness, energy, lightness, fluidity, serenity. Through those feelings and emotions you will become the sole owner of the artwork that you have choosen.