Christopher J. Earnshaw
Japanese Calligraphy
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
Boston, Rutland, Vermont, Tokyo
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
© 1988 by Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Co., Inc.
All rights reserved
LCC Card No. 88-51194
ISBN-13: 978-0-8048-1568-0
ISBN-10: 0-8048-1568-2
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0782-3 (ebook)
First printing, 1989
Distributed by:
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PREFACE
Calligraphy is an art form that has been studied for over three thousand years. The line, being the basis of all Oriental art, has, of course, a deep relationship with the art forms of countries around the world. I believe a knowledge of calligraphy will be an important string to one’s bow in the understanding of Japanese culture and in making friends with Japanese people.
For over thirty years I have endeavoured to make Japanese calligraphy easier to understand and appreciate, so that it will appeal to not just experts, but people of any country. As an explanation of calligraphy this book will probably be the first introduction for people other than Japanese and Chinese, and through this book the people of countries all around the world will have a chance to experience a little of the world of calligraphy, that seems so simple, but that is in reality a rich and rewarding study. It is the author’s desire that this book will help in the understanding of the origins of Japanese culture.
Born in Oxford, England in 1953, Christopher Earnshaw studied calligraphy and Japanese studies at Daito Bunka University in Tokyo and classical Japanese and Chinese through London University. He has held several exhibitions both privately and as the group Terakoya, in Japan and abroad. Receiving his Master’s licence Shodō Kyōjusha Shikaku Ninteisho in calligraphy in 1978, he exhibited several times in the Mainichi exhibition, the first time being in 1979 and received a gold prize in the twentieth All Japan Calligraphy Exhibition. Presently he lives with his family near Kobe, Japan and works for a British pharmaceutical company.
TERAKOYA
This is a name given to a type of school run during the Tokugawa Period (1603 -1868) by samurai to teach the local children the three R’s. In this case that meant reading yomi, writing kaki and arithmetic soroban. The school was usually a designated place, and likely as not a temple would lend rooms, hence the name “children of the temple room” terakoya. A famous mathematics textbook was written for the Terakoya by Yoshida Mitsuyoshi called Jingōki. In it he introduces the concept of compounded multiplication, nezumizan. Can you answer one of the problems he poses? If a pair of mice had twelve offspring every month, half of which were female, and every month those offspring also bore young, after twelve months how many mice would there be?
The Terakoya this author runs is a group of non-Oriental calligraphers who attempt to further the art through group study and exhibitions and thereby promote in themselves and others a cultural awareness and deeper understanding of Japan.
An illustration of a nineteenth century terakoya
Answer: 27,682,574,402 Mice
CONTENTS
The Beauty of Japanese Calligraphy
A Practical Guide
What you will need
Things to know before getting started
Further elements
Realities of planning your work
Hyōgu backing
Framing and Exhibiting
Tenkoku Seal Carving
Kokuji Carved Calligraphy
Takuhon Rubbings
Hyōsatsu Name Plates
Tehon explained
Tehon examples
Kaisho The Standard Script
Gyōsho The Semi-cursive Script
Hiragana The Japanese Syllabary
The History of Calligraphy
A Chart
China
Japan
Zen and Calligraphy
Korea
The Four Treasures
Fude Brush
