- Japanese calligraphers use paper called washi. The process of creating the paper is complex and requires patience. The fibers that go into washi are from the Paper Mulberry, a tree that's native to Japan and other parts of East Asia.
- All Japanese children learn calligraphy at elementary school. They can then choose to study it at high school if they wish, where teachers place it alongside art and music. Some Japanese universities also have departments devoted to calligraphy.
- Buddhist monks engage in Zen calligraphy. They first clear their minds of all thoughts. Then they use a brush and ink to create the characters. They must not correct what they have done and must work calmly and with confidence. The monks believe they express their spiritual state of mind at the moment when they wield the brushes and apply the ink to the paper.
- Japanese calligraphy owes its existence to the Chinese. Historians have traced calligraphy in China back almost five thousand years. It was the Koreans, though, who tookChinese calligraphy to Japan around 1600 years ago. Since then, it has developed its own distinctive style.
- The oldest known calligraphy in Japan is the Hokke Gisho. It dates from the early seventh century, and is a series of notes about the Lotus Sutra, a piece of sacred writing. A monk discovered the Hokke Gisho and kept it at the Horyu-ji temple. The Hokke Gisho remained there until 1878 when the monks at the temple gave it to the Japanese emperor.
- Calligraphy is a popular hobby in Japan. People from all walks of life, including many who work as aJapanese translator, find it creative and fun. A calligraphy set includes a soft black mat that acts as a working surface; a metal stick that keeps the paper in place; a large brush for main characters; a small brush for writing the name of the calligrapher; a container for the ink; and the sumi. The sumi is a small, solid block. You place it in water and rub it to create your ink.
Japanese Translator