About sumi-e and calligraphy
Sumi-e ( jap.„ink and paintings“), also called suibokuga (jap.„ water, ink and painting „) - painting with ink, - shodo (jap. „the way of writing“) - calligraphy.
Sumi-e - is monochromic or close to it soft, painting on rice paper or silk with colors diluted with water. Almost 2000 years ago this ink painting originated in China, and was assimilated by Japanese during XIII - XIV century. In XV century dzen monk Ikkyū Sōjun was writing:
How can one describe
The essence of heart?
It's the sound
Of a pine - tree in the wind.
Sumi-e.
In this poem you can find Far East painting spirit, it's heart.
The main sumi- e (also calligraphy) materials didn't change since II century, that is when was invented paper. With respect artists called it "Four Treasures". They were: brush (jap. fude), ink stick(jap. sumi), hand made paper (jap. washi), ink stone or grinding stone (jap. suzuri). The essence of "Four treasure" isn't only it's aesthetical worth. Most important - special sensibility. Japanese paper reminds a thin blotting - paper. It is sensitive to to each brush touch. Even if there is painted a little spot, it's not possible to delete or fix it. That's way masters are saying: "First you have to learn to master brush and ink, and afterwards you can create paintings". For this you need an extraordinary concentration, continual practice, ideal technique of brush management and high professionalism. When you will surmount all difficulties - you will reach freedom and ease. Each line, spot, each brush touch has to evolve life - "what heart is feeling, brush is personalizing" - Master is saying. It is the language of a heart.
Emptiness, blank space, hardly seen signs of a brush, not needed details absence, not catching stillness and movement unity makes the spirit of sumi-e painting. Imagination, idea, the flight of creation spirit completes what was left untold. In hint lies all Japanese art secret.
The art of calligraphy also is living in brush movements, it's endless improvisation of hieroglyph, by communicating complicated mode undertones - the wind blow in tree leafs or the flow of a cloud in the sky...
The poet and calligrapher of Japanese Chanda Siuko is saying: "By expressing itself, the flower is emitting unique perfume. Calligraphy - is the flower of man's sprit". same what is usual to calligraphy, is usual to painting too. Masters were saying: "A painter who can't manage calligraphy - is not a painter". What was found in painting, was assimilated by calligraphy and what was created by calligrapher - was transferred to a painting.
Frequently we are looking to calligraphy as to painting. There we see a dance, as if we can hear the sound of musical rhythms, or can hear the line's language ... Everything tinder in a harmony... All Japanese art uses the same principles of aesthetical, which are for a feeling a harmony between a man and a nature.
There is known 5 main calligraphy styles, which formed in China in III century:
TEN SHO – „small seal script“, also called „iron wire“,
REI SHO – „clerical script“,
KAI SHO – „regular script“,
GYO SHO – „the running hand“ ( semi - cursive style),
SO SHO – „grass writing“ (cursive).
And exceptionally Japanese style – KANA – which reminds drop of rain running through the glass.
In calligraphy and sumi-e paintings an important is seal. it is a and art creator, which is writtin in TEN SHO style.
Dalia Dokšaitė
Sumi-e and calligraphy materials "Four treasures":
brush (jap. fude), ink stick (jap. sumi), hand made paper (jap. washi), ink stone or grinding stone (jap. suzuri).
Seals
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Calligraphy styles
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