| Word | Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| bokuju | 墨汁 | boh-koo-joo | Bottled liquid ink · Ink |
| bokuseki | 墨跡 | boh-koo-seh-kee | “Ink traces”: calligraphy by Zen monks · History |
| bunbo shiho | 文房四宝 | boon-boh shee-hoh | The four treasures of the study: brush, ink, inkstone, paper · The tools |
| bunchin | 文鎮 | boon-cheen | Paperweight · The tools |
| eiji happo | 永字八法 | ay-jee hap-poh | The eight principles of the character 永 · The strokes |
| enso | 円相 | en-soh | A circle drawn in one brushstroke, associated with Zen · History |
| fude | 筆 | foo-deh | Brush · The tools |
| fudeoki | 筆置き | foo-deh-oh-kee | Brush rest · The tools |
| fudepen | 筆ペン | foo-deh-pen | Brush pen · The tools |
| futofude | 太筆 | foo-toh-foo-deh | Large brush, for writing characters · Choosing a brush |
| gyosho | 行書 | gyoh-shoh | Running script · The five scripts |
| hane | はね | hah-neh | Hook: a stroke ending that flicks away · The strokes |
| hanshi | 半紙 | hahn-shee | Standard practice paper, about 24 × 33 cm · Writing on hanshi |
| harai | はらい | hah-rye | Sweep: a stroke ending that thins to a point · The strokes |
| kaisho | 楷書 | kye-shoh | Regular script, the style taught in this guide · The five scripts |
| kakizome | 書き初め | kah-kee-zoh-meh | The first writing of the New Year · Kakizome |
| kana | 仮名 | kah-nah | The Japanese syllabic scripts, hiragana and katakana · The five scripts |
| kihitsu | 起筆 | kee-hee-tsoo | The entry, or beginning, of a stroke · The strokes |
| kofude | 小筆 | koh-foo-deh | Small brush, for signing your name · Choosing a brush |
| oka | 陸 | oh-kah | The “land”: the flat part of an inkstone · Ink |
| rakkan | 落款 | rahk-kahn | Signature and seal on a finished work · Next steps |
| seiza | 正座 | say-zah | Formal kneeling posture · Setting up your space |
| shitajiki | 下敷き | shee-tah-jee-kee | Felt pad placed under the paper · The tools |
| shodo | 書道 | shoh-doh | “The way of writing”: Japanese calligraphy · What is shodo? |
| shuboku | 朱墨 | shoo-boh-koo | Vermilion red ink used by teachers for corrections · How children learn |
| shuhitsu | 終筆 | shoo-hee-tsoo | The finish, or end, of a stroke · The strokes |
| shuji | 習字 | shoo-jee | Learning to write characters neatly by copying models · What is shodo? |
| sohitsu | 送筆 | soh-hee-tsoo | The travel, or middle, of a stroke · The strokes |
| sosho | 草書 | soh-shoh | Cursive script · The five scripts |
| sumi | 墨 | soo-mee | Ink; especially the solid ink stick · Ink |
| suzuri | 硯 | soo-zoo-ree | Inkstone · The tools |
| tome | 止め | toh-meh | Stop: a stroke ending that stops and lifts · The strokes |
| umi | 海 | oo-mee | The “sea”: the well of an inkstone · Ink |
All lessons
While the sets are on their way
The book is out now.
Japanese Calligraphy for Beginners takes you from holding the brush to writing whole words, step by step, in English. Every model inside was brushed by our teachers.
Starter Set, $72.99 with the book, brush, ink and paper: coming soon.