Journal
In the Master's Words
The depth of Japanese calligraphy, in the words of Taku Higano, third-generation head of Garyukai.
Taku Higano: A Life Given to the Brush
Taku Higano is the third-generation head of Garyukai, a Japanese calligraphy institute now in its ninth decade. A specialist in seal and clerical script, he speaks here of his path — and of what calligraphy truly is.
'Skilled' vs. 'Good': What Truly Makes Calligraphy Move Us
A 'good' hand is not the same as a 'skilled' one. It is the interplay of skill and beauty: even an unpolished hand can be beautiful when it lays the self utterly bare.
Seal & Clerical Script: The Allure of Japan's Ancient Characters
Seal and clerical script — the ancient characters — are old in age yet carry something contemporary. The form of a character at its birth is profoundly mysterious, and endlessly compelling.
How to Become a Calligrapher: What It Means to Live by the Brush
There is no licence to become a calligrapher; if you wish to, you may begin at any time. But to teach others, you must keep learning yourself — that alone is indispensable.
What Is Shodo? How It Differs from Penmanship and Calligraphy
Shodo is “the art of expressing yourself with the brush.” Taku Higano of Garyukai explains what sets it apart from penmanship and Western calligraphy.
Where Kanji Come From: The World of Pictographs
Kanji began as pictographs — the sun, the moon, mountains and rivers traced in line. How they multiplied, and grew into the five scripts.
The Five Scripts: Seal, Clerical, Standard, Semi-cursive, Cursive
Kanji have five scripts, from the ancient seal script to standard, semi-cursive and cursive — including the surprising order in which they were born.
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