September 29, 2012 – Ink, Paper, Brush: An Introduction to Kanji with William Kando Johnston (Zen Center of New York City, New York)

Calligraphy by Narasaki Tsugen Roshi

Many of us are intrigued by Chinese characters, or kanji in Japanese, and feel drawn to their fluid lines and striking beauty, as well as their richness of meaning. Whether we’ve appreciated the dynamic calligraphy of ancient masters, or simply wondered about these characters as we encounter them in our Buddhist practice, for most of us, kanji remain elusive and mysterious. Learning to write characters with a calligraphy brush is a wonderful way to get to know kanji, and so deepen our appreciation of this ancient Zen art.

By using brush calligraphy as a base, this workshop will help provide a basic understanding of some of the common kanji found in Zen practice. Beginning with some of the simple characters that appear frequently, we will examine not only the brushwork but also the structure of kanji, their evolution over time, and some examples of their usage in Buddhism, especially by some of the great calligraphers such as Dogen, Ikkyu, and Hakuin. There are three common styles of calligraphy—regular, semi-cursive, and cursive—and we will learn how to write all of these for a number of kanji.

It has been said that calligraphy is all about imitating a certain movement, to be repeated ad infinitum, yet each time fresh and unique. Bearing this in mind, we will practice letting our bodies and minds harmonize with ink, brush, and paper, expressing our creativity within this classical form and discovering the natural joy and serenity of calligraphy practice.

About the Instructor: William Kando Johnston started his formal practice of calligraphy while he was still a post graduate student in Japan in 1978. Since then, he has continued practicing calligraphy, most recently studying under Kaz Tanahashi. He is professor of Japanese history at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where he currently serves as Head of History Department. He has been practicing Zen for over thirty years, and became a Mountains and Rivers Order adept in 2001.

Fixed event period: Saturday, September 29: 10 am — 4 pm
Entrance fee: $75 (MRO Students: $65)

For more information, or to register:
Ink, Paper, Brush with William Kando Johnston

Zen Center of New York City
500 State Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 875-8229
• zcnyc@mro.org
facebook.com/ZCNYC

Source: Sweeping Zen