to write is to breathe How is your heart feeling today? We experience many things and have many emotions in our daily lives. Sometimes, in the chaos, we forget to let our bodies and our hearts breathe deeply. Writing allows our thoughts and feelings to flow from within and lets our hearts take deep breaths. Take a few moments to ask yourself: How is your heart feeling today? Write the thoughts and feelings that are inside you and savor the serenity that comes with letting your heart breathe. May good fortune find you today.
to write is to breathe
Meditation
~ Letting go of control ~
The act of dissolving sumi ink is a simple one. But, within that motion is a reflection of ourselves.We cannot control everything around us,even this act of dissolving sumi.We must learn to let go of the illusion of control.How the sumi aged, the moisture in the air, the fineness of the stone's surface, the angle the sumi meets the stone, the pressure with which you slide the sumi stick...each element, each motion - they all come together to create a singular moment, a singular encounter.The world revolves on such chance encounters.Pour the water, gently slide the sumi stick, calm your mind, and slowly lower the brush onto the paper."Understand that you cannot control everything, and choose to let go. Don't think, but feel, and let your feelings guide your movements.I hope to share with you the peace that comes with letting go. "
Vignettes Kanji Stories
Explore
Japanese can be written in three ways – kanji, hiragana and katakana.
On this website, I introduce the kanji and words that are the foundation of the Japanese language. Many kanji are derived from “kanji pictures” that represent the feelings of the ancient people that created them. Each kanji has a story behind it.The strong desire of ancient people to communicate and share their feelings turned the drawings into written characters: kanji. It is fascinating to me that each individual kanji has its own meaning. I hope to share with you the stories of how kanji came to be.
about Shizu
DramatiCalligrapher
Shizu is a Japanese calligraphy artist. Her mother, a professional calligrapher, taught her the art from a young age and it became the center of their relationship and her being.
Shizu received her degree in Calligraphy from the University of Teacher Education Fukuoka, and also acquired curator and high school teaching licenses.
Later, she joined the Nihon Moji Bunka Kikou of Kyoto, Japan. At this institute, she studied the history and culture of the written word in eastern Asia, under world-renowned kanji grammatologist and recipient of the Order of Culture, Dr. S. Shirakawa.In 2004,she became the youngest person to be certified by the institute to teach Shirakawa Grammatology, on which modern kanji education in eastern Asia is based. In 2009, she studied textile design at University of the Arts London (Saint Martins).
Currently, Shizu lives in Japan, often stays in Seattle, USA and other area. As a global calligraphy artist, she hopes to share and spread the joys and wonders of kanji and calligraphy.