〜Copying the calligraphy by my teacher 快活さ〜
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I have done this many times before and I am determined to continue this way of practicing as long as my life lasts. Then, once again, I practiced copying my first teacher had left. “It is desirable to spend days with the flow of spirits of the young.”
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こういう稽古は何度もしていますし、今後も命ある限り続けるのだと思いますが、そこで初めの師匠が遺してくれた書の臨書です。『青年の朗らかな快活さをもって日を送るということこそ相応わしい』
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I was gazing into this painting for some time at an acquaintance’s place, and she gave it to me. I was moved and felt very happy, because it must have been given to her by her important friend. I had a feeling it looked like a faraway place both spaciously and timewise. And I was inspired to write “Light flows”.
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知り合いの家でこの絵に見入っていたら、プレゼントしてもらえました。きっと大事なご友人からの贈り物だったでしょうに。遥かなる時空の風景のように見えましたので、『光流れて』と書きたくなりました。
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I received a huge bouquet on a beautiful spring day. I just put the flowers in a vase, which looked so small, indeed! I offer my deepest thanks.
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綺麗な春の日に大きな花束が届きました。とりあえず、そのまま花瓶に入れましたが、いかにも花瓶が小さく見えました。感謝。
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Packed into a bundle are/
So many gerbera flowers of different colors/
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Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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Today marks Jingzhe, the season when wintering insects come out of hibernation. I searched a poem from ancient China by this keyword and found this interesting one. It is only a passage of the whole poem that expresses “wondering in fields inadvertently to find myself at your door”, which I think a poor excuse.
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今日は啓蟄なので、これをキーワードにして古い漢詩を探したら、この面白いのが見つかりました。これは全体の中の一節ですが、「何の気なしに歩いていて、気づいたら君の家の戸口にいた」ということらしいですが、下手な言い訳だと思います。
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This is the first seasonal phrase for March, which means “as the weather gets warmer, vegetation begins to bud”. The last Chinese character means “to move”. I feel this is the most suitable character for the phenomenon.
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三月の初めの七十二候の名称で、暖かくなるにつれて、草木が芽吹き出すという意味だそうです。「動」という字がぴったりだなと思います。
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A very good, longtime friend of mine came with a lot of homemade delicacies and quality booze; and precious antique cups for tea from ancient China around four hundred years ago, which we used as saké cups. Despite all those good things to eat and drink; and to see and use; on the girls’ dolls festival day, our conversation was the best thing we had.
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大切な古い友人がたくさんのお手製のご馳走と上等のお酒と、そして貴重な骨董品（康熙年製）の茶器を持ってきてくれました。尤もそれを酒器に使いましたが。それでも、雛祭りの日の女子会としては、何よりも会話が尊いご馳走でした。
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Cold days of lilacs/
Nothing moves/
In the antique shop/
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O the month of February/
A dreamer/
At the antique market/
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Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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I collected many forms of letters for only one character 寿, that means “happy longevity” for my future productions. The letter寿has lots of variations, among of which this one looks definitely the most intriguing to me.
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今後の作品制作のために色々の形の「寿」という字をたくさん集めてみました。そんな中でこれが私には断然最も面白いものでした。
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It is very warm today, and it does feel like the month of March. The photo shows my work from long time ago of a passage of an old children’s song about the Dolls Festival on March 3rd.
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今日は暖かくて３月らしい陽気です。写真の作品は、童謡「うれしいひなまつり」の一節をずいぶん以前に書いたものです。
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My present teacher gave us, her students, a new task; to write one Chinese character that symbolizes this past year. Lots of things happened to my life this past year, which made me think many things. That is why I chose this character, “to think” or “thoughts”. Lastly, I need to choose which one I should submit.
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この一年を総括するような一文字を書いて提出するように、との課題が出されました。この一年の間には多くのことがおきました。そして、いろいろのことを思いましたので、「思」を書きました。あとは、どれを提出するかです。
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I practiced a page of a haiku from a book of models given to me by my first calligraphy teacher a number of decades ago.
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昔先生にいただいたお手本から俳句を選んで臨書しました。
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Lights of white blossoms of Japanese plum trees/
Flow into my hermitage/
Translation by Chio
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t was a cold rainy morning. And it was raining pretty steadily, which, somehow, made me feel like writing an ancient Chinese poem by a famous poet, Du Fu, the one about enjoying spring rain.
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久しぶりにしっかりと降る寒い雨の朝でした。ふと雨を詠った漢詩が書きたくなって、杜甫の「春夜喜雨」を選びました。
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This is the last seasonal term for February meaning the first mist of the year flows.
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2月の最後の七十二候の名称は「霞始靆」です。霞がたなびき始めるという意味だそうです。
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It has been cold and windy again for these couple of days. This modern haiku is fascinating, I thought. Even though it is “pale”, if the air is colored, deeper parts stay lower.
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この２〜3日はまた寒くて風も強いです。この現代俳句はとても面白いと思いました。「薄く」ても色のついた空気は地面近くに溜まります。
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Cold moments in spring/
Pale-colored air/
Stays near the earth/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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This piece enjoyed the most popularity at a group exhibition by three calligraphers from Poland and Japan held in November, 2017. The event, at the moment, seems to me something of a long time ago. However, it marks a really significant scene in my life, as I obtained valuable experiences and precious friends. The work has letters meaning “dance” in both modern and ancient forms.
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これは、2017年11月に参加させてもらった日本とポーランドの書家三人による書展で最も人気のあったものです。何かしら今はもう遠い出来事のようにも思えますが、貴重な体験と大事な友人たちを得たイベントでした。書いているのは、「舞」という字の現代使われている形と古代文字です。
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I like the touch of a brush with plenty of water, so I enjoyed doing this.
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『自分の流れを生きる』潤筆が好きなので、ちょっと遊んでみました。
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For the first time in a long time, I practiced copying of my first teacher’s small letters calligraphy. I tried this a number of times, however, mine completely lacks a feeling of tension of the lines. As I was doing this, I felt more and more depressed. I only wish this time would never be wasted.
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久しぶりに先生の仮名の書の臨書をしました。何度も書きましたが、線の緊張感が全く違います。書いているうちに落ち込んできますが、この時間も無駄でないはずと祈るばかりです。
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It is warm and sunny today. This pleasant weather reminded me of a framed calligraphic work my first calligraphy teacher, the late Mr. Akiyama Kodo gave me. I learned that it was a Buddhist term meaning “gracious light that illuminates everything evenly”.
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今日は暖かくて陽光が溢れています。それで、書の師・秋山公道師にいただいたこの額を思い出しました。仏教の言葉で、平等に一切を照らす慈悲深い光のことだそうです。
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“After the rain, the soil contains ample moisture” is the seasonal phrase toward the end of February. This phrase is actually difficult for me, as it contains one unfamiliar character.
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2月の終わりに向けての七十二候の名称「土脉潤起」です。雨が降って土が湿り気を含むというような意味らしいですが、普段見ない漢字があって難しいです。
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A very good, longtime friend of mine came to offer some flowers to my late mother on her way home from an early-morning market.
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旧い友人が朝市帰りにお花を亡母に供えてくれました。
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Enjoyed choosing small potted/
Primroses/
At a morning bazaar/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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The season doesn’t seem to progress quickly. It is very cold and windy today and we had powdery snow early in the morning.
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季節はなかなか真っ直ぐに進みません。今日は寒い上に風も強いですし、朝のうちには粉雪が舞っていました。
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O spring snow/
Trace of sun/
Under my umbrella/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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The seasonal phrase for the middle of February is this, “fish jumps out of ice cracks”. I think it is a pleasurable image that reminds people of the spring season. I am not sure if something like this actually happens, though.
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2月中頃の七十二候の名称がこの「魚上氷」です。割れた氷の間から魚が飛び出る・・・春という季節の嬉しさを思わせる愉快なイメージだと思います。実際にそんなことが起こるかどうか分かりませんが。
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It has been raining pretty steadily since midnight.
This is “spring wind”, incidentally. I wish disasters and viruses would be blown away.
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真夜中ぐらいからしっかりとした雨が降っています。
ちなみにこれは「春風」ですが、災害もウィルスも吹き飛ばされてしまえばいいのに.
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A very good, longtime friend of mine sent me this amusing set of chocolates. How many people can guess what this box was supposed to model on, I wonder.
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旧い友人がこの愉快なチョコレートセットを送ってきてくれました。一体どれだけの人がこれが何だか覚えているでしょうか。
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Glossy February has arrived/
Oh, chocolates/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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I tried another copying practice of my teacher’s work, which means “to make maximum effort”. I did this thanking my great fortune to have had such a distinguished calligrapher as a teacher again. For, he practiced copying thoroughly and so hard not only ancient Chinese great works but calligraphy by excellent calligraphers in old times in Japan. Thus, his calligraphy has every essence of all kinds of calligraphic techniques. As a matter of fact, it is the best thing in my life.
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願ってもない先生に出会ったことに何度も感謝しつつ師の書の臨書をしました。先生は、中国の古典も日本の優れた先人の書も徹底的に臨書されているので、先生の書にはその全てのエッセンスが含まれています。それで実のところ、私はまことにラッキーなのです。
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Today marks the first day of the year according to the lunar calendar.
“Riding upon the wind, riding upon the wave.”
How far can we go?
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今日は旧暦の元日です。
「風に乗って 波に乗って」
どこまで行ける？
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Slowly, it is getting warmer. This is the seasonal phrase for the first half of February, which means “Japanese bush warblers begin singing in mountain hamlets”. It makes you feel full of hope. Now, I have a number of messages to send out.
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ゆっくりですが暖かくなってきました。2月前半の七十二候の名称は、「鶯が山里で囀り始める」です。何かしら希望を感じる言葉です。そういえば、いくつか連絡を取らないと。
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This is from an old folk tale of Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan.
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Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful girl in Kibushi, Morioka. Every day she went to the Kitakamigawa River in front of her house, and did a laundry under a tall willow tree.
It is said that one day after she got out of home as usual, she went missing.
Her family and the villagers searched everywhere talking to one another, “Where the deuce has she gone? It is as if she had got spirited away.” But they couldn’t find her anywhere.
However, a few days later, she was found, being entangled by many branches and held tightly to the trunk of the willow tree.
The villagers saved her and brought her back home.
After that, she was sick with a sense of malaise for a long time and had a pallid face.
After she recovered from the illness, she said, “When I was washing the clothes just as usual that afternoon, the most beautiful man I have ever seen appeared from somewhere and hugged me tight and wouldn’t let me go. In the meantime, I felt dizzy and didn’t know what was what.”
After this incident, the willow tree naturally withered and died.
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“Beautiful man of the willow treed”, a folk tale of Iwate.
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岩手県の民話「柳の美男」から書きました。
昔、盛岡の木伏（きぶし）に美しい娘があったと。
毎日家の前の北上川へ出て、勢（せい）よく伸びた柳の木の下で洗濯物をしていた。
あるとき、その娘がいつものとおり洗濯に出たまま行方がわからなくなったと。
家の人たちや村の人たちは、「いったいぜんたい、どこへ隠れてしまったんじゃ。神隠しみたいだ」と言いあいながら、方々をたずね歩いたけどどうしても探し出すことが出来なかったと。
ところが、二、三日経ってから娘がその柳の木の幹にたくさんの枝々で絡まれて、しっかりと抱かれているのが見つかった。村の人たちは娘を助けて家に連れ帰った。
そのあと娘は永らくぶらぶら病にとりつかれて青い顔をしていたが、快（よ）くなってからこう言うた。
あの日の夕方、いつものように柳の木の下で洗濯をしていると、どこからか、見たことのない美しい男が来て抱きついて放さない。そのうちに何が何だか気が遠くなって、何とも知らなくなった。
その後（のち）、柳の木は自然に枯れて死んだ。
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This is another one of “energy”. I learned that you shouldn’t put a seal on instruments you use with your hands such as round fans and folding fans because it is a breach of manners. And I learned in that event, instead, you can write something like a seal with your brush. However, I am afraid not many people will understand this thinking. For, a written seal is a little too technical.
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これはまた別の「波動」です。団扇や扇子など手に持って使う道具に印を押すのはマナー違反でよろしくないと教わりました。その代わりに書き印を入れるといいのだそうですが、書き印はマニアックですよね。
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I practiced copying my teacher’s work again. This is a Buddhist term meaning “an actual practice of wisdom to learn a higher truth”. I believe he had a good grasp of the phrase before writing it. However, all I could do was to try to copy the forms of each letter.
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また先生の書の臨書をしました。これは仏語で、「真理を悟る智慧の実践」という意味のようです。先生はその意味をしっかり捉えて書かれたのだと思いますが、私はその字の形を真似ようとするだけです。
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I learned it meant “east wind or spring wind begins to melt ice”. This is the first seasonal phrase for the month of February.
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東風解凍。春風が氷を溶かし始める、という意味らしいです。2月初めの七十二候の名称です。
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Almost a week passed since the beginning of February. It was a pretty warm day today and the sky looked very beautiful. I am not sure whether this one was for the group exhibition I arranged in 2013 or the one in 2015. I am getting older and my memory is becoming weaker.
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2月に入って一週間ほどにもなります。今日は暖かい日で、空も美しかったです。これが2013年に主宰したグループ展用の作品だったのか、2015年に開いたグループ展用だったのか分からなくなりました。年を取ると、記憶力も怪しい。
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O the month of February:
Bird cuts the space/sky:
Beautifully:
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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I practiced copying of my teacher’s calligraphy. It is “gold or something very good is born from clear water”. He and his family moved from Tokyo to Kyoto to escape from the war damage. After that he kept living in Kyoto, complaining it was an undesirable place to live. I heard it was all because the good quality water in Kyoto, something of best value for a calligrapher.
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先生の書の臨書をしました。『綺麗な水から良いものが生まれる』ということ。先生一家は戦禍を逃れて東京から京都に移って来られました。京都は住みにくいと言いながらもずっとおられたのは水が良かったからだそうです。書家にとっては何よりのことなので。
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It is windy and very cold today. However, according to the old calendar, spring already began yesterday, and a little hint of the spring season seems to be in the air. When something is leaving, I wonder if wishing to deterrent it is an innate tendency of human nature.
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今日は風が強くて寒いですが、立春も過ぎて春が近づいている感じがします。過ぎ去って行こうとするものを何故か留めておきたいというのが人間の性なのでしょうか。
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To trap winter/
In a transparent glass case/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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Today marks the beginning of spring, according to the old calendar, so this is “first day of spring; very lucky”, a kind of motto for this day. I have heard because all four characters are bilaterally symmetric, the phrase looks the same when seeing both from the front and the back, and so it creates ultimate happiness.
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立春のためのモットーのようなものですが、４字ともが左右対称なので、表から見ても裏から見ても同じで、それで縁起がいいのだと聞いたことがあります。
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Today falls on Setsubun or the close of winter.
My mother unexpectedly liked what I did rather jokingly years ago.
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ずいぶん前にちょっとふざけて書いたようなものを母が気に入ってくれていました。
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This is a rather a rather mediocre result, I am afraid, of my copying practice of the calligraphy by my first calligraphy teacher. It is 飛 or “to fly”. And I was tempted to add some words by his daughter at the bottom like I did on December 16, 2020.
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Fly
For what?
For future?
Fly
Following your heart
In a natural manner
Without being tied up in any way
Your heart flies.
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なかなか上手く出来ませんが、先生の『飛』の臨書です。昨年12月16日と同様に、先生の娘さんの言葉も添えました。
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When I recall new things that happened to my life last year, I instantly think of several kinds of what you might call “art marchés” I was allowed to participate in. I found out each marché had its character and clientele.
I had always believed that my calligraphy was of a certain level because I practiced under a distinguished calligrapher for a long time since childhood.
However, to my great pleasure, it turned out that I enjoyed more appreciation than I had expected from many people in a number of occasions.
Now, I am once again reminded of my good fortune to have met a renowned calligrapher and his wife, equally a splendid calligrapher herself, as my teachers; and that my late parents let me go to their school for a long time.
So, this is “delight (happiness), confidence, gratitude”.
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昨年を振り返ってまず思うのは、参加を許されたいくつかの所謂『アートマルシェ』です。それぞれがそれぞれの特質や客層を持っていました。
私は幼い頃から長い間、格の高い先生に習いましたから、自分の字はそれなりだとずっと思ってはいました。
けれどもありがたいことに、いくつもの場で多くの人たちから予想していた以上の評価をいただきました。
そこで今また思うのは、その著名な書家と、同様に立派な書家であった奥さまに出会えたことと、長い間その先生の教室に通わせてくれた今は亡き両親への感謝です。
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Two of my “Facebook friends” probably with no connection at all happened to have posted videos of “Lion dance” or 獅子舞 recently. Because I didn’t know it was still around, I was a bit surprised. Seeing it at my mother’s parents’ home when I was a child was the last time. I hear my grandpa was living large when young. So, various kinds of peddlers came to his house to sell high priced produce; and street performers, as well, for good gift money.
Thinking of it now, seeing Lion dance up close was a unique experience, however, as I was a little child, I just got terrified and cried terribly.
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『フェイスブックのお友達』の恐らく何も接点のない二人が少し前にたまたま獅子舞の動画を投稿されました。獅子舞がまだあるとは知りませんでしたので、びっくりしました。
子供の頃母の実家で見たのが最後でした。母の父は昔は羽振りが良かったらしく、高い品物を売ろうとする様々な行商人やご祝儀が目当ての大道芸人がよく来ていました。
今思えば獅子舞を間近に見るというのは珍しい体験だったはずですが、幼かった私はただ恐ろしくてぎゃん泣きしただけでした。
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O seas, mountains, rivers/
Of hometown/
Lion’s mask of the New Year lion dance/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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A neighborhood lady gave me big, fresh Iyokan (Iyo citrus fruits). Then I remembered that I wrote “auspicious dream” a while back, and noticed “auspicious” and “fresh” are expressed with the same kanji character or Chinese character.
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ご近所さんから瑞々しくて大きな伊予柑をいただきました。そこでふと思ったのは、少し前に書いた『縁起のいい夢』の縁起がいいを表す漢字と瑞々しいという漢字が同じものだということです。
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Old things appear one after another. For those who know or remember my first calligraphy teacher and his wife should find these goods ever so meaningful and valuable.
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古いものが次々と出てきます。私の書の初めの先生とその奥さまをご存知の方々、または覚えておられる方々にはまことに意義深く、価値のある品々です。
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The segmented seasonal phrase for the end of January is this, “Streams freeze over quite thickly”. Actually, we have been enjoying warmer weather these several days. But “streams” mean small rivers up the mountains, so I am afraid it will take some more time for us to enjoy entirely springlike weather.
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1月下旬の七十二候の名称です。沢に氷が厚く張りつめているということらしいですが、この数日暖かくなってきています。けれども「沢」は山の上の方の小さな流れですから、まだ本格的に暖かくなってはきていない、ということでしょうか。
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I did some practice with the old models given to me by my first teacher when I was a six grader of my elementary school, wondering how I worked at them in those days.
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小学6年のときにいただいたお手本で練習。当時、これをどれだけこなせていたのかしら？ と考えながら。
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It was a little late timing to post this one. “Swelling are Japanese butterbur sprouts.” It was troublesome to find an English translation (equivalence?) of this plant. That isn’t a reason for this delay, though.
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この七十二候の名称を投稿するのがちょっと遅かったようです。蕗のとうの英訳を見つけるのが結構難しかったです。だから遅くなった訳ではありませんが。
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Cleaning the house brings many old things from somewhere. I remember very well that I had a lot of fun playing with this. But it also shows how my parents (maybe, my grandpa, as well) were keen on their daughter’s education from the first, doesn’t it?
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家を片付けると次々に古いものが出てきます。幼かった頃にこれで遊んだのを覚えています。でも、初めから教育熱心な親（祖父も含めて？）だったということがよく分かりますよね。
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For voices of late parents/
Expecting so eagerly/
O winter geese/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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I found this small piece of wood, the size of a postcard, at a stationery shop. I believe this is for carving a prototype for New Year cards and what not. I found it is quite easy to write on with a brush. The two letters are 波動 meaning “wave motion” or “energy”.
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文房具屋さんでハガキ大の小さな木を見つけました。年賀状などを刷る原型を作るためのものだと思います。それが、筆で書きやすいと判ったんです。
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It has been raining quite steadily since early morning, and it is the first rain in a long time.
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今日は未明から冷たい雨がしっかりと降っています。なかなか久しぶりのことです。
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The moment the rain in cold season/
Stops/
A soul ascends to heaven/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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A visitor at my booth in an art marché was very pleased with my calligraphy and offered to purchase one. It was the first time that a pretty sizable work like this was sold, which made me so happy.
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あるアートマルシェで私のブースに来てくださった方が、私の書をとても気に入ってご購入を申し出てくださいました。これほど大きな作品がお嫁入りしたのは初めてなのでとても嬉しいです。
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Today is referred to as the coldest day in winter. It has been a really cold winter. However, the sunlight is becoming brighter and brighter.
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今日が大寒に当たるようです。この冬は本当に寒いです。けれども、日差しは明るくなってきました。
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Large drops of stars/
Remembering/
It is the coldest season/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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I feel that I have a dream almost every night lately, but almost every morning I can’t recall what it was. Anyhow, this is “auspicious dream”.
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このところほぼ毎晩のように夢を見ているようですが、ほぼ毎朝覚えていません。でも、とりあえず『瑞夢』です。
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This is the seasonal phrase for mid-January, which means male Japanese pheasants begin singing. However, again, I don’t think I have seen pheasants in my life, so I have no idea what their voices are. As I have no clear pictures of them, I tried two versions. I wonder if they live nearby, in Tadasunomori forest for instance.
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1月半ばの七十二候の名称で、雄の雉が鳴き始めるという意味らしいですが、残念ながら、またも、雉を見たことがありませんし、どういう声で鳴くのかも分かりません。それでイメージも湧きませんし、二通り書いてみました。雉は近くに生息しているのでしょうか、例えば糺の森などに。
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