Japanese calligraphy taught in Murmansk

The House of Friendship in Murmansk held a Japanese calligraphy workshop on January 8, 2020, organized by “Japan in Murmansk” – a regional non-profit organization for Japanese culture, and its chairman, Rumi Fukushima.

The event engaged the fans of Japanese language and culture – the permanent attendees of regular Japanese tea ceremonies, yukata and traditional Japanese cooking workshops.

With no in-depth knowledge in calligraphy, they tried their best and produced elegant characters, clarified by Rumi Fukushima.

Japanese calligraphy is one of the most popular fine arts in Japan. Calligraphy artworks are valued no less than any other art, yet this particular style also embeds a deep philosophy on top of its artistic merits.

In the simplest terms, calligraphy is the art of fine handwriting, where an artist uses a bamboo brush, ink, and rice paper to create a piece of art, which translates balance and beauty.

There are no occasions in Japanese calligraphy: every line or dot have meaningful starting points, directions, shape, and finish; the balance between elements also matters, and even blank space says a lot. The characters exist in harmony, proportion, and balance.

The history of Japanese calligraphy dates back approximately to the 6th century AD, when the Chinese writing system was implemented during the Nara period. Writing in Chinese originally, the Japanese had soon adopted the characters according to the requirements of their own language.

Only Japanese noblemen and samurai were entitled to learn calligraphy but eventually it also spread to the wider public.

Currently the art of calligraphy continues to flourish, and its masterpieces can be seen at exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events alongside the best examples of fine arts and sculpture.

Source: www.hibiny.com

Japanese calligraphy taught in Murmansk