Texts-Otehon

Sakura Sakura my Cherry Blossoms

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Hi everyone,

I hope you are well and enjoying the spring breeze.

– Have you already seen your first cherry blossom of the year ?!

In March I’ve given a Shodo workshop with the theme word YOZAKURA 夜桜 – Cherry blossom at night.
We’ve practised YOZAKURA in two styles – Kaisho (block) and Gyosho (semi-cursive).
I was very impressed by the mindfulness process of all participants.

©RIE TAKEDA

About Sakura, cherry blossom

Sakura cherry blossoms are without a doubt the most loved flowers in Japan.

As many know, cherry blossoms have a very short life in high spring time like in March and April.

As Sakuras are in full colour full bloom, might stay for a week or two – however a strong spring wind can instantly blow all blossoms away within a moment. 

One night, Sakura is presenting its height of beauty, the next morning the pinky blossom could be all gone. One could absolutely never tell how long the breathtaking Sakura reminds in a full bloom.

Therefore the Japanese see and reflect the impermanent beauty as their own life circle.

And they see the whole transformation of Sakura as beauty – even it is withered just like their life-circle.
That’s why they gather and celebrate the arrival and the momentum beauty of the spring under the Sakura trees, called HANAMI Sakura viewing. Capturing the momentum of beauty and appreciating the present moment. 

Thus Sakura also strongly presents the Ukiyo ’floating world’ as well as the Wabi-Sabi philosophy, the quintessential Japanese aesthetic which is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. 

In my sessions/workshops, I encourage my students to envisage the feel of these Sakura elements specially the Wabi-Sabi aspect – so impermanent and sentiment and to bring the input into the movement as they do the Seisho at the end.
(Seisho is the calligraphy with clear mind done at the final stage of Shodo practice)

  • Package for the theme workshop ©RIE TAKEDA

Here are some Sakura inspired Haikus.

*Sakura, sakura
they fall in the dreams
of sleeping beauty
/ Yosa Buson (1716-1784)

*Scatter layer by layer,
eight-layered
cherry blossoms
/ Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)



*Cherry blossom petals
blown by the spring breeze against
the undried wall
/ Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)

*A lovely spring night
suddenly vanished
while we viewed cherry blossoms
/ Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

*Photos by Jake Rajs

Moreover, I share one of my Painted Poem series.
As you can imagine I’ve painted several Sakura works in the past 20 years!

” 藍桜   SAKURA IN INDIGO“

さくら　
さくら　
私のさくら

桃色夜桜は
今夜のごちそう

Sakura sakura, my sakura

The pink cherry blossom is

Tonight’s beautiful treat.

藍桜  SAKURA IN INDIGO

Sumi ink and Gouache on handmade paper, 70x100cm

2010 ©RIE TAKEDA

For now
Let’s enjoy every moment of this sunny spring….

Stay safe and inspired.

HAPPY PRACTICE!

ARIGATO – Rie

shodo mindfulness method
http://www.shodocalligraphy.com

Friend/friendship/友

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I’d like to share an Otehon text TOMODACHI 友達: Friend/friendship.

This is a great text to practise various Harai techniques.

I know the SHINNYO radical is often a tricky one to practise for many learners. But trust me- More practise, better you get!

And it is such a beautiful movement your body would always remember!

My tip: please pay attention to the energy movement, specially “up-and-down” contrast in SHINNYO.

【友】 Tomo/ Yuu

Is developed from the pictograph of two hands: giving hands and helping each other, further developed into the meaning of sharing a same spirit/will.

Otehon : TOMODACHI
A snap from my workshop in July .

Happy Practice!

Arigato,

Rie

Celebrating Spring, the year of the Rat

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Have you done the Zodiac calligraphy yet?!
Or
Are you already moving on to a spring text?!

Here I’d like to post some fantastic zodiac calligraphy works from my students – (both private sessions and workshops in January)
As you might’ve seen 2020 is the year of the rat, started from the 25th.January.


The first calligraphy of the year : KAKIZOME was 子、鼠 / Rat in zodiac and pictographic Kanji accompanied with 世界平和 / World Peace.

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Technically we focused on basics and clear transparent lines.
Another focus I really wanted my students to concentrate on was the deep inner input of mindfulness while we did the text  世界平和 / World Peace.
All practised so beautifully….

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If you are no more beginner, you could practise Sanshotai 鼠.

When you do, please practice these three styles always in a loop circle from the right hand side: Sosho←Gyosho←Kaisho

This is the practice which has a light systematic flow so we can learn not only the different brush movement from Kaisho to Sosho but also the different energy evaluation quite effectively.

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HAPPY PRACTICE!

Rie-stamp-web

Arigato, Rie
www.shodocalligraphy.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long nights, Winter nichts: 永夜

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Thank you for coming to the last Shodo workshop of the year in Basel(CH) /Bad Saeckingen (DE) area.

Our Shodo text was ;

“EIYA 永夜 “means long nights symbolizing the winter nights.

It can be read “nagai yoru”

•EI : 永 / eternity

•YA : 夜 / night(s)

”永“　is an extremely important Kanji character because it includes eight basic yet fundamental brush strokes for Kaisho/Block style – it called eight rules (八法)

Even if you are already intermediate level or advanced level practicing Gyosho style, winter season is a good time to reflect and review the basic strokes and techniques. You will see that each brush movement would become clearer and more developed after a few practices.

Here I put two images ; extra information about Kanjj science and background if you are interested.

♾https://www.instagram.com/p/B5xnnxKICwT/?igshid=1l0t9cs47yh4l

Happy Practice!

Arigato,

Rie

From Winter冬 to Spring 春

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From Winter to Spring!

Thank you to all who came to the Shodo workshop.

We had already beautiful spring texts.

Loads of -clear sky-sun lights-Peach festival- breath- heartfulness.

Compliment on your mindfulness process and high concentration!

I am happy to show you the art of Shodo.

Arigato!

A student of mine brought me some tasty Anpans from Hiro-Takahashi, Zürich-

Was all soooo yummy!

Gochisousama!

冬から春へと書道のお手本もやっと季節が変わりました。雪解け水を意識つつ、白梅、寒梅で春の目覚めを感じます。ロンドンの展示会の準備や絵の注文で猫の手も借りたいこの頃ですが、授業やワークショップで書道という芸術/文化に興味を持ち学びたいという人達のために、自分なりの効果的メソッドを長年色々試して研究してきてよかったと感じる事が増えてきました。もっとそのメソッドを深くカテゴリー化していきたいです。今後もよりたくさんの方々にこの芸術の魅力を紹介していけたら嬉しい限り。感謝して自分も常に精進しなくっちゃ！

All wonderful works from the participants

And I would like to share some Winter snaps just to say “good bye” to the season.

❄️Calligraphy-ing on snow “with our finger-brushes.

It only lasts the moment…either way neither way.

I just can not help doing calligraphy on this beautiful paper like snow.

やっと降りてきた突然の雪。衝動を抑えきれず、冷たいとはわかってても 指で書かずにはいられない、、、 。

雪 YUKI/Snow in Kanji

ゆき YUKI/Snow in Hiragana

ユキ YUKI/Snow in Katakana

Happy spring practice!

Arigato,

Rie

If you are on the Instagram, please follow my page! More constant posts can be seen!

⬇️

https://www.instagram.com/neojaponismatelier/

The year of the Boar 2019

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I hope you had a great start of the year 2019! This is the year of the boar 🐗

Best wishes for the New Year.

Let’s hope the year of the Boar will bring us courage, peace and harmony!

 

 

Kakizome 2019 書初め is ;

The first calligraphy of the year,

The New Year’s calligraphy.

Of course we have done with the Kanji

“ 亥 “ ;

means boar in the zodiac calendar.

Normally “ 猪 “ is commonly used for boar.

On the Kakizome day, a new brush is

often brought in symbolizing the new start / the beginning.

 

Here I share some Kakizome pictures of my daughter which we did on 3rd January.

Yes, sure – we did the warming-up practices as usual!

Here comes a picture from the children’s class this week!

All did excellent Kakizomes and I asked them to write their individual theme for 2019.

 

 

Enjoy the learning process.

Happy Practice!

Arigato!

Rie

 

 

 

Toshikoshi 年越し

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Thank you very much for your support this year!

The end of year is the busiest season in Japan just like pre-Christmas time in Europe.

The actual 31st December is called OMISOKA 大晦日.

In order to welcome the new year with a transparent fresh mind, families come together to clean up the house clearing the dirt of the old year.

Normally it becomes so quiet and empty in the cities as many go back to their home town during this time.

Here is the perfect text to finish off the year!

“Toshikoshi” 年越し

; New Year’s Eve, end of year

年 Toshi ：year, season, years

越しKoshi : to transit, go over

Good bye the year of the Dog!!

Enjoy the last hours of 2018!

Arigato,

Rie

Winter Texts 冬のお手本一

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I hope you are enjoying the beautiful advent time!

All Shodo workshops are done for this year.

Lots of frosty-winter calligraphy texts.

Otehon texts for December workshop in Freiburg

Thank you for attending the workshops here in Freiburg and also in Bad Säckingen.

Compliment on your mindfulness process!

From the last workshop in Bad Säckingen

Otehon: Fuyu no Tomoshibi

From the latest workshop in Freiburg

冬 : Kanji / ふゆ : Hiragana /フユ : Katakana

•Meaning : Winter, Winter season

•Pronunciations : Fuyu, Tou

•Etymology : ending + ice

冬 ; means the end of four seasons, the time when things get frozen.

冬山 / 冬月 / 冬天 / 冬至 / 冬眠

Happy Practice!

ARIGATO,

Rie

Workshop in Freiburg ; Lantern light

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Calligraphy ” Tomoshibi ” by Rie Takeda

Thank you very much for attending the workshop on Sunday.

I do appreciate your effort to learn the art of Japanese calligraphy with such opened mind!
All of you did very well – compliment on your full concentration and mindfulness process. Great job!

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Calligraphy display from workshop participants 21.10.2018

We had lots of (high) Autumn Otehon texts, mainly with the ” fire 火 ” element and yes, sure some ” misty fog / Kiri 霧 ” and  ” maple tree / Kaede 楓 ”

  • Autumn　/ AKI 　秋
  • Lantern light / Tomoshibi　灯

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The illustration shows the pictographically developed composition.

Rice plant(s)  +  Fire  =  Autumn 秋

IMG_0012

Tomoshibi in Sanshotai : Link

The next workshop in Freiburg is on Sunday 18th November. It is at the moment fully booked, but one can be on the waiting list.

The November workshop will be the last one for this year. Then we will start again in the New Year 2019 on 20th January.

Meanwhile I hope you all will enjoy your Shodo practice in this beautiful season.

Happy Practice!

Arigato, Rie
rie-stamp-web.jpg

Workshop in June

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Thank you” to everyone who came to the workshop on Sunday in Freiburg.

Very mindful, concentrated and productive!

The theme for June was more summery with lots of natural elements, like water flow and rain drops..

Excellent progress!

Well done. Arigato✨

Next date( the last one before the summer break!) is

on Sunday, 22. July.

Here I share only some Seisho pieces from three participants who are beginners.

Happy summer practice!!

Arigato

Rie

MY INSTAGRAM ⬇️

https://instagram.com/p/BkNH2PkFquk/

Workshop-Bad Säckingen

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Thank you to everyone whose who came to the workshop on Sunday in Bad Säckingen!

All learned and practiced wonderfully.

Well done!!

The theme was “ when a flower blossoms “

: hana sa ku toki

: 花咲く時

One of the participants Elke-san brought her beautiful photos. Sakura pics from Kyoto – and rare Atsumorisou orchid pics from Rebun island in Hokkaido.

Arigato!

Next date in Bad Säckingen is 13. May.

Happy Practice!

Enjoy the blooming time”

Rie

Workshop in Freiburg

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Thank you to all who came to the workshop in March.

All did excellent calligraphy-hours!

Big compliment on your mindfulness and deep concentration! Well-done!

I am happy to meet such beautiful minded people and to show them the Art of Japanese Calligraphy.

ARIGATO!!

Next Workshop in Freiburg is on Sunday, the 22nd. April

No more winter texts for us! Spring is here!

Happy Practice!

Rie

Otehon for winter season

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Are you already enjoying your Shodo practice in a warm cozy room with some candles on?!

When it comes to practising Shodo, Autumn and Winter seasons are great for us to refind a inner silence and develop a deeper sense of mindfulness.

Today I post a perfect seasonal Otehon for here and now.

 

Otehonn text “shimobashira 霜柱”

: しもばしら/ シモバシラ

-English: Frost pillar,  Frost columns

-German: Frost Kristalle, Raureif

2 Kanjis;

-霜 shimo : Frost

-柱 bashira : Column, Pillar

-Level: beginner to intermediate

-Brush size: medium to big,  for both hard and soft haired

Technical Tips:

– make sure the difference between the side brushing and the direct brushing

– a clear 1-2-3 movement in the corner techniques

– left Harai technique, always wait for the cursive point.

– check all types of bending strokes

– check the middle line and composition balance

Enjoy your Shodo hours”

Happy Practice!

Arigato, 

Rie

www.shodocalligraphy.com

Otsukimi: Moon viewing

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I hope you are enjoying the beautiful Autumn colours.

I would like to update a new Autumn text in Hiragana.

It is suitable for the beginners and those who are eager to brush up Hiraganas.

The Otehon text : OTSUKIMI おつきみ

It has four Hiraganas.

Tip :

– For medium to big brush,  both hard and soft.

– make sure you fold the paper into four boxes

– Loads of Nuki* Slide out techniques in the text,  so the warming-up practice with spirals recommended.

– For Hane*jumping technique, make sure you do the 1*2*3 movement with your brush.

Movement 1; Pause~ the place where you stop at the first stroke 

Movement 2 ; Preparation~ you open the hair of brush little bit.

Movement 3 ; To jump ~ you pull the energy up through your naval and slowly proceed to jump.

– Make sure you are able to imagine the clear picture of the moon you like and an extra feeling for that moon. 

– Kanji for that text is; “お月見”  or “月見”, you can drop the お.
Happy Practice!

Arigato, 

Rie

Otehon; Kingyo~Goldfish

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I hope you are enjoying these hot sunny days! Are you brushing up your calligraphy skills?! Or doing more stroke-practice?!

Before the summer holiday ends, I would like to post an Otehon for the month of August.

The summery text you can not avoid ….

Yes,  “Goldfish”!!

“Aka-i-kin-gyo (Jap) ~ Red goldfish”

*Akai: Red

*Kingyo: Goldfish (Kin; Gold +Gyo; Fish)

*4 Kanjis and 1 Hiragana

Please check all balance lines, composition frames and some tips above.
Each Kanji have more less a clear middle line. Always start with a clear angle and check which brush technique should be applied.(side or direct brushings)

Recommended brush size is the medium to the big. Both hard or soft haired are suitable for this text.

Happy Practice!!

Rie

Otehon for a summerly walk “Yama- Michi”

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Finally, the summer heat pops up!

I post the Otehon text which has the technique of SHINNYO”. It is not an easy technique to practise,  but a very important one to learn in the art of Shodo and in the Do-Art.

This Otehon text is prepared for the beginners who already practised some Kanji texts and for the first time to practise “Do-Michi-道”

Yama Michi”- can be read as San Do”.

: Mountain path

*Yama~ Mountain

*Michi~ The way, the path

Tip:

-Big or medium size brush,  both hard or soft.

-山: A combination of the side and the direct brushing techniques. A very strong corner technique. The dominant middlebalance. Rather thick and big.

– 道:1 x rectangular box + 1x”L” shaped composition. The key practice is a long flat MIGI HARAI(RIGHT SLUDE-OUT) in the Shinnyou radical. Always keep the brush upright. Concentrate on lifting the Qi energy up through your belly button. The extra “S” movement practice can be very effective.

-“SHINNYOU” in Michi/Do is one of the essential techniques in Shodo. Always ask your teacher again and again till you get the right brush movement and understand the correct energy shifting in this technique.

-Related textes : 書道 shodo、 華道 kado、 茶道 sado、 柔道 judo、合気道 aikido、剣道 kendo、空手道 karatedo…

-The “up and down practice” as a warming-up exercise is recommended specially for the vertical energy movement.

– Relax your shoulders and neck area.( as always^)

Good luck!!

Happy Practice!

Rie

www.shodocalligraphy.com