Shodo is a form of traditional Japanese calligraphy. It is a Zen art, similar to ikebana (flower arrangement) and tea ceremony. Shodo involves dipping a special type of bamboo brush into ink to create beautifully rendered versions of Chinese kanji and Japanese kana characters. There are many different types of shodo, from kaisho, which translates as “square style”, to gyosho, which translates as “semicursive”. The construction of each hieroglyph carries a special meaning and weight, and the messages which are carried in the hieroglyphs tend to be of harmony, light, love, and other subjects of wisdom. Shodo is considered to be as philosophical as it is artistic.

Shodo began in China. It was transmitted to Japan in the sixth century. Back then, calligraphy was an integral part of noble life; it was how the nobility communicated and recorded ideas, facts, and information. In later centuries, the art form was not only limited to the nobility. Commoners began to use shodo, and it continues to be used today. In Japan, calligraphic works are considered to be artistically equal to beautiful paintings; calligraphy is not any less regarded as an art form. Today, it is studied by students throughout elementary and high school.