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Hitsuzendō (筆禅道, "way of Zen through brush") is believed by Zen Buddhists to be a method of achieving samādhi (Japanese: 三昧 sanmai), which is a unification with the highest reality.^{[clarification needed]} Hitsuzendo refers specifically to a school of Japanese Zen calligraphy to which the rating system of modern calligraphy (well-proportioned and pleasing to the eye) is foreign. Instead, the calligraphy of Hitsuzendo must breathe with the vitality of eternal experience.^{[clarification needed]}

Origins

Yokoyama Tenkei (1885–1966), inspired by the teachings of Yamaoka Tesshu (1836–1888), founded the Hitsuzendo line of thought as a "practice to uncover one's original self through the brush." This was then further developed by Omori Sogen Roshi as a way of Zen practice. Hitsuzendo is practised standing, using a large brush and ink, usually on newspaper roll. In this way, the whole body is used to guide the brush, in contrast to writing at a table.

History

Calligraphy was brought to Japan from China and Chinese masters such as Wang Xizhi 王羲之 (Jp: Ou Gishi; 303-361) have had a profound influence, especially on the karayō style which is still practiced today. The indigenous Japanese wayō tradition (和様書道, wayō-shodō) only appeared towards the end of the Heian era. However, the calligraphy of Zen scholars was often more concerned with spiritual qualities and individual expression and shunned technicalities which led to unique and distinctly personal styles.^[1] Japanese calligraphy has three basic styles: Kaisho 楷書, Gyōsho 行書, and Sōsho 草書, adopted from China.^[2]

Philosophical background

True creativity is not the product of consciousness but rather the "phenomenon of life itself."^{[citation needed]} True creation must arise from mu-shin 無心, the state of "no-mind," in which thought, emotions, and expectations do not matter. ^{[citation needed]} Truly skillful Zen calligraphy is not the product of intense "practice;" rather, it is best achieved as the product of the "no-mind" state, a high level of spirituality^{[citation needed]}, and a heart free of disturbances.

To write Zen calligraphic characters that convey truly deep meaning, one must focus intensely and become one with the meaning of the characters they create.^{[citation needed]} In order to do this, one must free one's mind and heart of disturbances and focus only on the meaning of the character. Becoming one with what you create, essentially, is the philosophy behind Zen Calligraphy and other Japanese arts.

References

^ Nakata, Yujiro. The Art of Japanese Calligraphy, Weatherhill/Heibonsha, New York/Tojyo, 1973. ISBN 0-8348-1013-1
^ Kunii, Takezaki; Godin, Bob (2013-01-29). An Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy. Tuttle Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 9781462905928.

Terayama, Tanchu. Zen Brushwork - Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting ISBN 4-7700-2944-6

[Nakata_73-1] Nakata, Yujiro. The Art of Japanese Calligraphy, Weatherhill/Heibonsha, New York/Tojyo, 1973. ISBN 0-8348-1013-1

[2] Kunii, Takezaki; Godin, Bob (2013-01-29). An Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy. Tuttle Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 9781462905928.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Essay-like|date=April 2010}}{{POV|date=September 2010}}
+{{Essay-like|date=April 2010}}
+{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
-[[Image:original face enso.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ensō]], the Zen Circle.]]
+[[File:original face enso.jpg|thumb|''[[Ensō]]'', the Zen circle]]
-{{Nihongo|'''Hitsuzendo'''|筆禅道|hitsuzendō}}, the "Art of the Brush", is believed by [[Zen Buddhism|Zen Buddhists]] to be a method of achieving [[Samādhi]] (Jap.: ''samaai'') (unification of individual with the highest reality). Hitsuzendo refers specifically to a school of [[Japan]]ese [[Zen]] calligraphy to which the rating system of modern [[calligraphy]] (well-proportioned and pleasing to the eye) is foreign. Instead, the calligraphy of Hitsuzendo must breathe with the vitality of eternal experience.{{Clarify|date=March 2011}}
+{{Nihongo|'''''Hitsuzendō'''''|筆禅道|"way of Zen through brush"}} is believed by [[Zen Buddhism|Zen Buddhists]] to be a method of achieving [[samādhi]] (Japanese: 三昧 ''sanmai''), which is a unification with the highest reality.{{what|date=January 2019}} Hitsuzendo refers specifically to a school of [[Japan]]ese [[Zen]] calligraphy to which the rating system of modern [[calligraphy]] (well-proportioned and pleasing to the eye) is foreign. Instead, the calligraphy of Hitsuzendo must breathe with the vitality of eternal experience.{{Clarify|date=March 2011}}
 ==Origins==
-[[Yokoyama Tenkei]] (1885–1966), inspired by the teachings of [[Yamaoka Tesshu]] (1836–1888), founded the Hitsuzendo line of thought as a "practice to uncover one's [[Buddha nature|original self]] through the brush." Hitsuzendo was developed by [[Omori Sogen]] Roshi as a way of Zen practice. Hitsuzendo is practised standing, using a large brush and ink, usually on newspaper roll. In this way, the whole body is used to guide the brush, in contrast to writing at a table.
+[[Yokoyama Tenkei]] (1885–1966), inspired by the teachings of [[Yamaoka Tesshu]] (1836–1888), founded the Hitsuzendo line of thought as a "practice to uncover one's [[Buddha nature|original self]] through the brush." This was then further developed by [[Omori Sogen]] Roshi as a way of Zen practice. Hitsuzendo is practised standing, using a large brush and ink, usually on newspaper roll. In this way, the whole body is used to guide the brush, in contrast to writing at a table.
 ==History==
 {{Main|Japanese calligraphy}}
+Calligraphy was brought to Japan from China and Chinese masters such as [[Wang Xizhi]] 王羲之 (Jp: Ou Gishi; 303-361) have had a profound influence, especially on the ''karayō'' style which is still practiced today. The indigenous Japanese ''wayō tradition'' (和様書道, wayō-shodō) only appeared towards the end of the [[Heian era]]. However, the calligraphy of Zen scholars was often more concerned with spiritual qualities and individual expression and shunned technicalities which led to unique and distinctly personal styles.<ref name="Nakata_73">Nakata, Yujiro. ''The Art of Japanese Calligraphy'', Weatherhill/Heibonsha, New York/Tojyo, 1973. {{ISBN|0-8348-1013-1}}</ref> Japanese calligraphy has three basic styles: Kaisho 楷書, Gyōsho 行書, and Sōsho 草書, adopted from China.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg7RAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA8|title=An Introduction to Japanese Kanji Calligraphy|last=Kunii|first=Takezaki|last2=Godin|first2=Bob|date=2013-01-29|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn=9781462905928|pages=8|language=en}}</ref>
-{{See also|East Asian calligraphy}}
-Calligraphy was brought to Japan from China and Chinese masters such as [[Wang Xizhi]] 王羲之 (Jp: Ou Gishi; 303-361) have had a profound influence , especially on the ''karayo'' style which is still practiced today. The indigenous Japanese the ''wayo tradition'' (和様書道, wayoshodo) only appeared towards the end of the [[Heian era]]. However the calligraphy of Zen scholars was often more concerned with spiritual qualities and individual expression and shunned technicalities which lead to unique and distinctly personal styles.<ref name="Nakata_73">Nakata, Yujiro. ''The Art of Japanese Calligraphy'', Weatherhill/Heibonsha, New York/Tojyo, 1973. ISBN 0-8348-1013-1</ref>
-Japanese calligraphy has three basic styles: Kaisho 楷書, Gyōsho 行書, and Sōsho 草書. The latter is a flowing style composed with swift strokes. Its free movement and beauty has made Sōsho the most popular style with calligraphy masters. Japanese calligraphy is given merit not only for its style, beauty, and meaning, but also for the character of the calligrapher which can be seen in the Kanji that is written.
 ==Philosophical background==
-True creativity is not the product of consciousness but rather the "phenomenon of life itself."{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} True creation must arise from mu-shin 無心, the state of "no-mind," in which thought, emotions, and expectations do not matter.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Truly skillful Zen calligraphy is not the product of intense "practice;" rather, it is best achieved as the product of the "no-mind" state, a high level of [[spirituality]]{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}, and a heart free of disturbances.
+True creativity is not the product of consciousness but rather the "phenomenon of life itself."{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} True creation must arise from mu-shin 無心, the state of "no-mind," in which thought, emotions, and expectations do not matter. {{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Truly skillful Zen calligraphy is not the product of intense "practice;" rather, it is best achieved as the product of the "no-mind" state, a high level of [[spirituality]]{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}, and a heart free of disturbances.
-To write Zen calligraphic characters that convey truly deep meaning, one must focus intensely and become one with the meaning of the characters they create.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} In order to do this, one must free his/her mind and heart of disturbances and focus only on the meaning of the character. Becoming one with what you create, essentially, is the philosophy behind Zen Calligraphy and other Japanese arts.
+To write Zen calligraphic characters that convey truly deep meaning, one must focus intensely and become one with the meaning of the characters they create.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} In order to do this, one must free one's mind and heart of disturbances and focus only on the meaning of the character. Becoming one with what you create, essentially, is the philosophy behind Zen Calligraphy and other Japanese arts.
-==Notes and references==
+== See also ==
+*''[[Zenga]]''
+*''[[Bokuseki]]''
+==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-* Terayama, Tanchu. ''Zen Brushwork - Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting'' ISBN 4770029446
+* Terayama, Tanchu. ''Zen Brushwork - Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting'' {{ISBN|4-7700-2944-6}}
-* Kuwahara, Kokugyo.  [http://www.doku-zen.de/en/hitsuzendo.html www.doku-zen.de] - website with examples of Hitsuzendo
-== See also ==
-{{Commons category|Japanese calligraphy}}
-*[[Japanese calligraphy]]
-**[[Zenga]]
-**[[Bokuseki]]
-[[Category:Calligraphy]]
+[[Category:East Asian calligraphy]]
 [[Category:Japanese calligraphy]]
-[[Category:Zen terms]]
+[[Category:Zen Buddhist philosophical concepts]]
 [[Category:Japanese art]]
 [[Category:Visual motifs]]
 [[Category:Zen art and culture]]
+[[Category:Zenga]]