"Soil" Japanese calligraphy

"土" (do, or tsuchi). It is translated as soil, earth, the ground.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　Pictogram a lump of clay on a potter's wheel.
Ancient people are full of imagination.

Vegetables hill farm

The man is born..., put on years..

He gets something, learns something.

He loses something, forgets something.

Scent..., Flexibility.., Touch of the soil.

Colors of the sky..., vegetables..

And what is else?..., Smile.., and..

"Winter" Japanese calligraphy

　　　"冬" (tō, or fuyu). It is translated as winter.
　　　This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

　　　Etymology :　夂 (go)　+　冫 (ice)

　　In the present natural world, ice moves before.
　　It is the same as the etymology of this kanji.

Four seasons Panorama of Shirakawa- Old - District

　　　I quoted these photographs from the next site.

　　　You can watch the four seasons of this village.
　　　The perspective of it, first one and second.

　　　Please look at them, and enjoy the beauty...

The legendary Old-District

These houses say a gasshō-zukuri (joining hands structure).
It resembles manual form when a man joined his hands.
The structure is this local characteristic, and the roof where snow is easy to fall.
Of course people still live in there.

Nobles and concerned people made this village about 800 years ago. It is the legend that they lose to fight (1180–1185), and sheltered here.

Here is registered with the world heritage.

When this area was made first, a certain times began.
You know it well, too.




It takes several hours from the town nearby to here, and surrounded the circumference in the high mountains.
Snow shut in people in old days.

You can watch the four seasons of this village. It may surprise you a little.
The perspective of it, first one and second. Please look at them.

It will be the one of the places that are the most inconvenient in this small country.
And it may be a good place of the scenery most.




The ancestral one of them is called "Heike".
They were defeated by Yoritomo Minamoto of "Genji".
The Heian period was over at the time, and the Kamakura period began.

Yoritomo Minamoto is the first Shōgun. It is the leader of the samurai.
Yes. When this village was born, the Samurai's area whom you knew was born, too.

Here is Shirakawa-gō ("White River Old-District"), Gifu Prefecture.

Ephemeral construction, snow festival

Sapporo Snow Festival is held in a beginning of February.
Here is Sapporo, Hokkaidō.

These are completely made of only snow.
A lot of such statues are made.




Very large quantity of snow are carried in a town from the suburbs. And snowy lumps are sculptd various form.

Social topics become the subject.　This is a statue made in commemoration of interchange with Korea.




The festival of the Far East is lively all. 　Therefore, it is difficult to appreciate the beauty of the sculpture calmly.

When the festival is over, they are completely dismantled...

The "Void (Kū)" is the important subject of Far East.

"White" Japanese calligraphy

"白" (haku, or shiro). It is translated as white, pure, bright.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　This character originally showed an acorn.
The character acquired its current meaning of white from the color of the acorn's meat.
The original meaning has been lost.

Original meanings and forms change really during long time.
It often happens in human society.

"Snow" Japanese calligraphy

"雪" (setsu, or yuki). It is translated as snow.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

The original character is "䨮"

Etymology :　 雨 (rain) + 彗 (broomstick)

The original meaning is sweeping the ground.

The person who devised a kanji is a poet, surely.

In the silver world, hot spring "Onsen"

　There is one hot spring inn in the other side of the way of this cliff.
　We walk to there.

　Innumerable hot spring (Onsen) spread through the whole country.
　Because I was born in a south area, I like Onsens of the winter.




　There is an outdoor bath in the other side of this hut.

　Here is Semboku, Akita Prefecture.
　It is a "nyūtō onnsenn village" in Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
　The heart of a mountain is dotted with hot spring inns.




　In this magoroku-onsen, color is white.
　The hot spring of Akita especially has the atmosphere of the old good Far East.

　Paradise in the intense cold.
　The onsen in the snow scene may let a person rebear.

The way of the Middle Ages, Nakasendō

This way prospered as a main street until about 100 years ago.
It is a way called Nakasendō which links Osaka to Edo.
There were 69 post towns (Shukuba) on the way.

Because post towns (Magome, Fukushima, etc) are famous as a tourist attraction, there may be the person knowing.




Most of the people of the Edo period did not have freedom of the movement.
Samurai or Merchant came and went on this way.

The most people were farmers.




Most of the neighboring houses are left as those days.
They are inns and stores. 　The part of those is still used.
It is surrounded both sides on the high mountain.

Now, the person going is few desolate way.

The trace of the dream. 　
Here is Tsumago, Nagano Prefecture.

Fluttering pure white pieces.. Haiku

This haiku is written by Hiragana and Kanzi letter, Semi-cursive script.
He is one of the most famous haiku poets.



うまそうな　　　　雪がふうわり　　　ふわりかな

umasouna　　　　yukigafuuwari　　fuwarikana

Look delicious　　Snow, Fluffffy... 　Fluffy..... 　



Another Issa's post, please click here.

Remembrance

I think that I have watched the scenery somewhere.
However, I cannot readily remember it.

There was the place where embraced me in gently.




Maybe they will not be remembered.
Thus I do not mind.

But the dim memory is my treasure.

"Way" Japanese calligraphy

　 　
"道" (dō, or michi).
It is translated as path, road, street, method, way.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　 辵 (walk) + 首 (head)
Compounds : 柔道 (jūdō), 道德 (morality, ethics)

The way "道" is called "Tao", and it is the thought that Laozi valued most.

Thanks for your appreciation

I heartily thank all of you for appreciation of my calligraphy.


I was born in Taiwan during World War II, and was brought up. My parents are Japanese. I came to the Far East since war was over.
I took the license of national language and calligraphy at national university.
It was a teacher for many years. I have not exhibited a work at exhibition.

There is little way left by me. Therefore I wanted to have people except my country watch my works.

I have not watched any blog till then, and my foreign language was poor.
But, I was supported by a lot of encouragement and suggestions of many friends. I was very glad.


The friend who showed a lot of interest in my calligraphy particularly for a long time, is my honor.
Thank you again.

・　chrome3d 　"Cloudbusting" 　　　　　　　　　　　　　Finland

・　Sarah 　　 　"Cottage Garden Studio Photography" 　U.S.A

・　Barbara (Myth Maker) 　"Reading The Sky"　　　　　 U.S.A

・　James　　　"SOMETHING SIGHTED" 　　　　　　　　　　 U.S.A

・　Pilland 　 "Confini amministrativi - Riigipiirid - Political borders"　Italy

・　joo 　　　　　"Urban stories" 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Poland

・　Cris　　　　　"Porque quiero más" 　　　　　　　　　　　　Argentina

・　Carol 　　　 "Flower Hill Farm" 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 U.S.A

・　Griffith　　　"KAFAMDAKİ PARAZİT" 　　　　　　　　　 Turkey

・　AB 　　　　　 "Phone Cam 365" 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Germany

・　ρομπερτ　　　"daily athens"　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Greece

・　Carmen Henesy　　　　"Carmen's Chronicles"　　　　　　U.S.A

Excuse me to all friends for not introducing.

My calligraphy may be printed world somewhere.　
It is very happy for me to have a lot of people look.　
And i am glad if it recall something of your landscape.
It is "Calligraphy in the LANDSCAPE"　


From the Far East.
Best regards.
ruma

Dreams falling in snow, the frozen world

　　　A frozen river is lighted up with various light.
　　　So feel the freezing breath.

　　　Here is Soun-kyo Gorge, Hokkaidō.

　　　Situated in the Daisetsuzan National Park,
　　　the area is known for Onsen (hot springs) resorts as well as waterfalls and magnificent cliffs scenery.

　　　A waterfall is frozen hard.
　　　The term "Sōunkyō" means respectively the layer (層 Sō), cloud (雲 un) and gorge (峡 kyō) in Japanese.

　　　Hokkaid is famous for sightseeing. The overseas people may have come.

　　　うまそうな　　　　雪がふうわり　　　ふわりかな
　　　　　　小林　一茶　（1763　- 1828）


　　　Look delicious　　Snow, Fluffffy... 　Fluffy.....
　　　　　　Kobayashi　Issa　（1763　- 1828）　

"Ice" Japanese calligraphy

"氷" (hi, or koori). It is translated as ice, frost, icicles.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　 (A crack of the ice) + 水 (water)

"Girls' Day" Japanese Doll Festival

　　　The Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3.

　　　A set of ornamental dolls (hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.

　　　The custom of displaying dolls began about 1200 years ago.　
　　　The official decoration consists of five steps.

　　　Each position is selected as each role.

　　　I show respect for Lady in the whole world.

　　　Era when the talent of all women was utilized has come.
　　　And the world will become more peaceful if the status of women worldwide improves.

Thanks to you all and your works, sincerely

　　　Here is over Chita Peninsula, Aichi Prefecture.
　　　This is the place to catch a beautiful sunset, at straight seashore.

　　　I thank to all friends who visited my pocket-size the Far East space.
　　　All your works are wonderful.

　　　I respect them heartily, and was always impressed by them.

　　　Encounter with all of you is my pleasure.
　　　"Once-in-a-lifetime encounter"


　　　I pray for you and yours happiness.
　　　And, Peace of the earth.


　　　Happy New Year 2010 !!

from the Far East

"Earth" Japanese calligraphy

"地球" (chi-kyū). It is translated as earth.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　地 (ground) + 球 (sphere)

You and I are here, beautiful. It is truth.
Even if the world is full of iniquity.