context: calligraphy

Zen Calligraphy

The key purpose of Zen calligraphy was not aesthetics - unlike Heian hiragana's passion for beauty and subtle effects - but force of spirit. This of course doesn't mean that aesthetics didn't enter into it, or that we shouldn't look for artistic satisfaction from the works produced, but the basic intent was different. I start with some examples of particular new styles introduced by Zen, then move on to some Zen calligraphers I want to feature.

an enso and calligraphy by Hakuin Ekaku. It reads "Hamamatsu is famous for the quality of its tea. I would like to send a young girl there to pick some"

Nichiren

Ichijikan

Maze Writing

Konoe Nobutada

Rikyu

Ikkyu Sojun

Seigan Soi

Hakuin Ekaku

Jiun

Gocho Kankai

Ryokan

backwards: Heian period

forwards: hiragana revival

sideways: zen generally