Song of the Brush, Dance of the Ink: The Path to Self-Discovery Through Japanese Calligraphy

Calligraphy is an ancient art that doesn't grow old. Known in Japanese as Shodo (書道) the Way of the Brush, a proverb has it that Shodo promotes perpetual youth and longevity. Research has shown that indeed, the practice of Shodo improves posture, regulates breathing, and even calms the heartbeat, all of which indeed has been shown to extend life. In China, it was considered one of the Five Excellences for cultivating character: Calligraphy, Poetry, Painting, Tai Chi, and Tea. Song of the Brush, Dance of the Ink: Reclaiming the Five Treasures of Japanese Calligraphy brings this into a contemporary context. Calligraphy is crystalized time, and Song of the Brush, Dance of the Ink shows readers how to unlock its secrets by learning how to wield the brush with precision, how to read and write the various scripts used in Shodo, and how to use it as a discipline for self-mastery and self-expression. Because of the language barrier, it has long been a mystery to the Western mind. Song of the Brush, Dance of the Ink gives readers unprecedented access to the wonderful world of Calligraphy, removing the barriers of language, geography, time, and accessibility. William Reed is a leading expert on Japanese Calligraphy and Japanese Culture, who is actively engaged in teaching Calligraphy in Japan as well as to an international audience. Song of the Brush, Dance of the Ink enables people to appreciate the philosophical dimensions of Calligraphy, enjoy it for interior display or as digital art, and as a path to self-discovery and self-mastery through master tips on practice.

Author: William Reed
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Published: 05/03/2022
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.84lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.58d
ISBN: 9781631957208

About the Author
Reed, William: - William Reed provides an insider's view of the Art, based on his own journey over nearly 50 years from mystery to mastery in Shodo. He is a Professional Calligrapher, holding the highest rank possible in Shodo 10th-Dan, Certified Professor of Calligraphy, Numerous Awards in International Competitions, Regular Exhibitions in Ginza Tokyo, and is Vice Chairman of the Japan Calligraphy Education Association. He is a Professor of Calligraphy and Kanji Culture at the International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) at Yamanashi Gakuin University in Japan, where he teaches Japanese and overseas students from over 30 countries. He also conducts a Shodo School providing lessons and demonstrations online. He regularly performs and demonstrates calligraphy in Japanese documentaries about the Samurai, and on Japanese television. He conducts live performances of Calligraphy on Stages, Historic Sites, Documentaries, Martial Arts Magazines and Dojos, Shinto Shrines and Zen Temples. He is the author of Shodo: the Art of Mind, Body, and Brush (Japan Publications, 1989), Shodo in the Digital Age (Japan Creativity Society, 2017), Enhanced Creativity and Concentration in the Mastery of Kanji (Japan Creativity Society, 2018), and Brush is the Sword of the Mind, a ongoing column with videos in Gekkan Hiden and on https: //budojapan.com.