The images of above are of Kobara Ranseki Sensei's calligraphy of mushin. Mushin means "no mind" or "empty mind, " and it refers to a state of calmness and mental clarity that is a goal of traditional shodo practice. Kobara Sensei, founder of Ranseki Sho Juku shodo, painted these Chinese characters in the abstract, abbreviated, and cursive sosho style. (Clicking on the images above will enlarge them.)Note the dynamic, and yet still composed, nature of the artwork, clearly displaying the unity of calm and action that is the hallmark of high level Japanese calligraphy. The late Kobara Sensei was one of the preeminent masters of Japanese calligraphy in the 20th century, and this work is in the collection of Hiseki Davey Sensei, his student.
Davey Sensei can be commissioned to create similar pieces of calligraphic art, and he can be reached at hedavey@aol.com.
