Seal scriptTensho · 篆書
Ancient character forms are a defining feature. Small seal script often has elongated proportions and rounded lines. Seal script includes diverse forms rather than a single uniform appearance.
THE ART OF JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHYJapanese calligraphy.
Japanese calligraphy.
Meaning in every stroke.
Discover shodo, the Japanese art of calligraphy. Explore how a kanji character takes shape through brushwork, ink and the space around it.
Our gallery of calligraphy by Kouen is coming soon. In the meantime, get to know the five major styles of kanji writing below.
Discover the five styles ↓Artworks coming soonWe are preparing photographs
and details of the works.
and details of the works.
The gallery
COLLECTIONEach work will be introduced through photographs, the meaning of its characters, and details of its size and materials.
COMING SOON
Our first works are coming soon.
No artworks are listed yet. We will add them once their photographs and details are ready.
Five styles. Different expressions.
FIVE SCRIPTS OF KANJIKanji are the characters used in Japanese writing that originated in China. Their calligraphy is commonly grouped into five major scripts, or styles of writing. Look for differences in character shape, connected strokes and simplified forms.
Clerical scriptReisho · 隷書
Broad, horizontally spreading forms are a useful feature to look for. A well-known form of clerical script uses broad, flaring stroke endings that give the writing a distinctive rhythm.
Regular scriptKaisho · 楷書
Clearly articulated individual strokes make the character structure easy to follow. Look at how strokes begin and end, and at the spaces between them.
Running scriptGyōsho · 行書
Connections and abbreviated strokes give characters a flowing movement. Follow the way the brush moves from one stroke to the next.
Cursive scriptSōsho · 草書
Extensive abbreviation and flowing, connected strokes can produce forms that look very different from regular script. The movement and rhythm of the lines offer another way to appreciate a work.
These are general features, not rules that every work follows. Artists and individual works vary within each script. Cursive script developed earlier than running and regular scripts, so the five scripts are not simply a sequence of increasingly abbreviated writing.
“Seal script” is the name of a writing style. Here we explore it as calligraphy, rather than the craft of carving personal seals (hanko).
The headings above are labels, not visual examples of each style. We will add examples after checking their script identification and permission to reproduce them.
SOURCES & FURTHER READINGNational Palace Museum, Taipei — Thousand-character Work in the Seal and Clerical Scripts (English)Tokyo National Museum — The Five Scripts of Chinese Calligraphy (Japanese)Nitten — Types and Characteristics of Calligraphy Works (Japanese)Hideki Oshiki, Joetsu University of Education — Understanding Running Script (Japanese)National Taiwan Arts Education Center — Regular Script and Wei Stele Calligraphy (Chinese)
ARTIST
About Kouen
We are preparing an introduction to Kouen and the stories behind the works.
OUR APPROACH
See more than the character.
A work of calligraphy is more than the words it contains. We aim to help you appreciate its meaning, brushwork, materials and scale.
Interested in an original work?
IN PREPARATIONWe plan to offer original calligraphy works in the future. We are not accepting orders or purchase inquiries yet.
Contact details will be added once our inquiry email is ready to receive messages. Prices, shipping information and return terms will be available before sales open.