Zen Brushwork: Focusing the Mind with Calligraphy and Painting (Paperback)

by Tanchu Terayama (Author), Thomas Judge (Translator), John Stevens (Translator) "Calligraphy (sho) is a formative art based on writing..." (more)
Key Phrases: grass script, primordial void, seal script, Miyamoto Musashi, Mount Fuji, Soto Zen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
With its bold strokes and mystic aura, Zen calligraphy has fascinated Westerners for decades, yet it remains an abstract, rarely practiced form of expression outside of Asia. Now, master calligrapher Tanchu Terayama explains the techniques behind this subtle art and offers step-by-step instructions for practicing it on a professional level.

After introducing the basics, Terayama presents a unique meditative warm-up to establish the proper mental attitude needed to release one's creative energies. Next, the power of the brushed line is explained and demonstrated. What makes a good line or a bad one, an expressive effort or an unfocused one? Lessons on brushing symbolic Japanese characters follow, including those for "emptiness," "nothingness," and "flower." The painting section shows readers how to draw the spare yet elegant pictorial themes of this classic art: bamboo, plum blossoms, Mount Fuji, and the inspirational Zen priest Daruma.

If the exercises are the heart of the book, the Appreciation section is the soul. This chapter introduces classic works from renowned priests and other historical figures, including Miyamoto Musashi (the celebrated swordsman and author of The Book of Five Rings), Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of aikido), Jigoro Kano (the father of judo), and Zen priest Hakuin. Each masterpiece is accompanied by penetrating commentary on the strengths and salient features of the work.

Rarely has Zen calligraphy been demonstrated and discussed with such candor and insight. Illuminating yet another side of Zen, Zen Brushwork will be an invaluable source to those interested in meditation, Zen, Buddhism, the martial arts, and Oriental traditions in general.

About the Author
Tanchu Terayama is a professor at Nishogakusha University and the co-author of Zen and the Art of Calligraphy. His collection of historic calligraphy was the subject of an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Thomas F. Judge is a Japanese-English translator now based in the San Francisco area. He has lived in Kanazawa, Osaka, and Tokyo, where he pursued his interest in Japanese crafts. He is the author of Edo Craftsmen: Master Artisans of Old Tokyo, a look at living craftspeople working in traditional crafts.

John Stevens is Professor of Buddhist Studies, as well as Aikido Instructor, at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, Japan. He has been associated with Tanchu Terayama for nearly thirty years and has written a biography of Yamaoka Tesshu, The Sword of No-Sword, as well as many other books on various aspects of Asian culture.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (January 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770029446
• ISBN-13: 978-4770029447
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #171,341 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #45 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Calligraphy
  #53 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Instructional & How-To > Calligraphy
  #81 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Zen Philosophy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtfully written and an easy-to-follow guide, February 10, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Ably translated into English by Thomas F. Judge and John Stevens, Zen Brushwork: Focusing The Mind With Calligraphy And Painting by Tanchu Terayama (Nishogakusha University) uses black-and-white photography to illustrate simple exercises and practices that one can follow to expand one's mind and meditation skills through the arts of calligraphy and painting -- especially as they have been practiced in Asian nations for thousands of years. Showcasing works of art as well as advice and practical instructions, Zen Brushwork is a thoughtfully written and an easy-to-follow guide that especially recommended to students of meditation, Zen Buddhism, and the contemplative aspects of the martial arts.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ZEEN Brushwork, April 9, 2008

By	A. Heule (Zürich in Switzerland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After studying Calligraphy here in Switzerland for a couple of years, I was looking for information beond the "technical" side of the calligraphie. In the book of Tanchu Terayama, I found importand and excellent explantions about the ZEN line, detailled and step by step instructions for the warming up. All informations are written in a clear way, so I was able to enjoy every single page and got a lot of inspirations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elementry Zen Brushwork, January 2, 2009

By	Martin (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

It is since one year that I am trying to paint as written in several books I have read about the EDO-period in Japan. This book tells the basics about the background of the Zen-paintings which I was missing in other books. The book is clearly and understandable written.