I found and chose this one for copying practice from a collection book of my teacher’s works. “There is no boundary to stop in learning.” Yes, I do understand that, I think.
This is my favorite phrase out of the seventy-two subdivided seasonal phrases. The phrase “Scarlet flower” looks, sounds and feels beautiful. This kind of flowers are actually orange, though.
I had been very much looking forward to seeing the moon yesterday evening. For, it was not ordinary full moon but was accompanied by eclipse and “super moon”. However, unfortunately, thick clouds blocked the moon.
I was lucky enough to get acquainted with a number of people at the occasion of the group exhibit of calligraphy held in November 2017, in Poznan, Poland. One of these people is a lady who are now successfully accomplishing her career as a teacher at a primary school there. She liked my calligraphy and introduced it to the influential people there one after another. In short, this lady not only “speaks” but actually acts. I have received requests from her several times so far to give her my calligraphy on certain themes. Every time I try to answer her request as soon as possible. The photo shows my calligraphic works about cooking and food I wrote following her request, which I sent to her immediately. Apparently, she wants to use these in her classes. According to her, her students and their parents enjoy my calligraphy very much. I think I am so lucky to have met a friend who is willing to contribute to my ultimate goal in life, that is, to spread this art and culture to the whole world.
It is sunny and pleasant now, but the rainy season started much earlier than normal this year, and in addition, we have had consecutive hard rain, which is rather depressing. This is one of Zen phrases which apparently means “to find the sun in the rain and draw clear water from the burning fire”. I am afraid it takes a lot of effort to be so philosophical about life. . 今は晴れて気持ちのいいお天気ですが、今年の梅雨は早く始まったばかりか、強い雨が続いてちょっとうんざりしています。これは禅語で、「雨の中にも太陽を見て、燃え盛る火の中からでも清らかな水を汲む」といった意味らしいですが、人生をこんなにも達観するのは難しいと思います。 . <To the homepage of this website>
The seasonal phrase for this time of year is this, “蚕起食桑”. Literally it means “silkworms get up and eat mulberry leaves”. In other words, silkworms begin eating mulberry leaves actively. It is easy to guess that sericulture is a major industry, for both the farm folks and those who want to enjoy luxury with rolls of silk cloth.
This is a modern haiku about the pleasant aroma of the (sumi) ink drifting in the air even in the rainy season. I am aware that these days more and more people use something synthesized ink-like liquid. I remember my teacher called it “dead ink” and told his students never to use this “dead ink” because “living calligraphy” would never be produced with “dead ink”. . 梅雨の中でも、墨のいい香りが漂うという内容の現代俳句。近頃では、合成された墨のようなものを使う人が増えていると聞きます。思い出すのは、先生はそれを『死んだ墨』と言って、『死んだ墨では生きた字は書けないから、死んだ墨を使ってはいけない』とおっしゃっていたことです。 . In the rainy season/ I give the desk wearing sumi (inkstick) aroma A wipe/ Calligraphy and translation by Chio