Information
| Title: |
源流 JP: Genryū “Origin (of something continuous, e.g., language, culture)” |
| Media: | Ink on paper (shikishi board) |
| Size: |
20 cm by 20 cm (framed/mounted size: 28.5 cm by 30.5 cm) |
| Date: | 2025 |
Description
- Style: Northern Wei dynasty regular script (a form of kaisho).
- Ink hand-rubbed using egg white (albumen) rather than water. The result is a silver colour and minimal bleeding.
The style is based on the forms of characters in the inscription 南石窟寺碑 (JP: Nansekikutsu-ji hi; “South stone cave temple inscription”), which was written to commemorate the construction of a temple in northern China in about 510 CE.
Part of a rubbing of Nansekikutsu-ji hi.
I think this is a particularly charming example of Northern Wei regular script, with cute squashed characters and rounded strokes, and I have been studying it since the summer of 2024, trying to figure out and write the forms of the characters.
I would like to produce a folding book (known as an orij?) of the entire inscription; however, this will probably take a while as there are around 800 characters in total.
The common name for “calligraphy” in Japanese is shod? (書道; “The way or path of writing”), reminding us that the journey is the goal, not the destination.
Studying this inscription and discovering its wonderful forms have been nothing but pleasure. These stylistic wanderings are part of the fascination of calligraphy: I have undertaken many already, and I hope I will be able to undertake many more.
I gave this piece to a wonderful lady who recently decided to take a career break after many years of hard work in the same organization. I only got to know her at the end of her tenure, but she was instrumental in the creation of two of my recent works: Extract from a Poem by Li Bai and Welcome to Our World or 色即是空.
I imagine that she will be thinking about her origin and her journey as she plans the next step in her life. Before she takes that step, I hope she has the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break.
Cheers!