〜For peace of mind in this terrible weather 豪雨の中では尚更に〜

We haven’t enjoyed calligraphy lessons in our usual classrooms since February last year.  My present teacher told us her students that we should learn calligraphy copying especially at times like this.  However, I just can’t stop myself turning to my first teacher’s calligraphy that has been so familiar to me since my early childhood rather than the classics respected by all the calligraphy learners of all ages and cultures.

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去年2月からお教室でのお稽古が叶いませんが、今の先生は、こういう時期にこそ臨書することをしっかり学びなさいとおっしゃいます。私はどうしても皆から長く尊ばれている古典よりも、幼い頃から親しんだ初めの先生の書に気持ちが向いてしまいます。

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〜Seasonal phrase 夏の終わりの合図〜

The seasonal phrase for this time of the year is this, “evening cicadas sing”, which somehow implies a sort of loneliness, that is, a feeling the summer season is finally ready to leave.

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今ぐらいの時節の七十二候の名称です。寒蝉はひぐらしだそうですが、何とはなしに夏ももう終わっていくのかなという寂しさを感じます。

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〜Pleasure, confidence and gratitude あのときの決意〜

I regret I had almost forgotten about this one, which I wrote to raise awareness in myself when I realized I finally had become the only one in my house.

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いよいよこの家に残されたたった人間になったと思ったときに、自分自身の自覚を促すために書いたはずなのに、殆ど忘れ去っていました。

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〜Some kind of family reunion お盆の準備〜

During the Obon period, usually in mid-August, it is believed that the ancestral spirits come back to their family.  Today I bought some offerings to the ancestors including sweets, fruits and vegetables.  I heard a story that goes fruits of a plant called “Chinese lanterns” should serve to guide the deceased to their house safely.

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今日はお盆のお供えの用意をしました。鬼灯はご先祖さまが迷子にならずに帰れるように提灯の役をすると聞きました。

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O, Chinese lanterns/

Ready to welcome dad and mom/

Brand new tatami mats/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Old folding fan お祝いの印〜

While I was trying to tidy up my house, I found this old folding fan of festive kind, which my teacher gave to us his students to commemorate his eighty-eighth birthday.  Now I am remembering that he and his wife used to give us his students commemorative gifts on happy occasions; and after various events they always invited all his students to a party at a good restaurant to reward our services.

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家を片付けていると、このお祝いの扇子が出てきました。先生がご自分の米寿のお祝いに皆に配ってくださったものです。今思い出すのは、先生と奥さまは何かのお祝いのときにはいつもお弟子に記念のお品をくださったし、何かのイベントの後には必ずいい料亭でご苦労さん会を催して、お弟子たちを招待してくださったということです。

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〜Seasonal phrase 涼風至〜

“First cool breeze in fall blows” is a seasonal phrase for this time of year.  Today it is quite windy because of the typhoons but we don’t feel this kind of pleasantly cool wind.

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この時期の七十二候の名称です。今日は台風の影響でかなり強い風が吹いていますが、涼風とは言い難いのです。

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〜Something beautiful 永遠の価値〜

I practiced copying my teacher’s work.  This time, I tried very hard to copy each letter, however, I changed the arrangement.  “Something of beauty is an everlasting delight.”

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先生のお作品の臨書をしました。今回は一つ一つの字は写そうと頑張りましたが、レイアウトは変えました。

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〜Autumn appears in the sky first 秋の雲〜

Just as this haiku says the clouds in the fall sky are often attractive when flowing away and transforming.

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この句にあるように、秋の空にある雲は、流れていったり形が変わっていったりするのが面白くて心が惹かれるものです。

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Autumn begins/

Interesting is how the clouds/

Move and change shapes/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Seasonal phrase  規模の違い〜

“Sometimes a massive rainfall occurs” is the seasonal phrase for this week or so.  We have heavy rainfalls at times for sure around this time of year.  However, the scale of “heavy” seems to have changed comparing when I was growing up.

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「大雨時行」。この時期の七十二候の名称がこれです。ときどき大雨が降るということのようで、確かにその通りですが、大雨の規模が昔とは違ってきている気がします。

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〜Water is no longer transparent  涼しそう〜

As it is so hot, I searched for words that will give you cool feelings and found this one.  Apparently, it means the mountain stream water continues flowing in until the colorless water looks indigo.  The phrase is supposed to produce a cool, refreshing note in this severe heat.
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暑くて仕方がないので、何かしら涼しげな言葉がないかしらと探しました。谷川の水が満ち満ちて、無色の水が藍のようだ、という意味で、この暑い時期に涼しい思いを届けようとするものらしいです。
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