Sword and Brush: The Spirit of the Martial ArtsThis moment of perfect clarity that is the force behind all the traditional Japanese arts—from archery to flower arranging—is celebrated here in Dave Lowry's exploration of the common principles shared by calligraphy and the martial arts. Forty-two examples of Lowry's calligraphy, accompanied by his essays, show how the way of the brush reflects the strategic principles of the way of the sword. Each calligraphy represents a term from the martial arts—such as do, the way, or wa, harmony. The accompanying text amplifies our understanding of the term, what it meant to Japanese warriors, and what it means to practitioners of calligraphy and the martial arts today. What becomes clear is that these two seemingly unrelated disciplines actually partake of the same profound elemental spirit. |
Contents
The | |
Martial | |
The Process of Training | |
Movement | |
Form the Architecture of Meaning | |
Timing | |
Perception | |
Pliancy | |
Transmitting Tradition | |
The Immovable Deity | |
Harmony | |
OutsideInside | |
Hand | |
The Tradition | |
The Master | |
Rank of Advanced Practice | |
Principles of War Principles of Peace | |
The Secrets | |
Energy | |
The Mind | |
The Sword | |
Entering | |
Postures of Engagement | |
Critical Margin | |
The Center | |
Receiving | |
Ranks of the Beginner | |
Forging | |
The Cultivation of Craft | |
Shadow | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
aikido armor art of fighting arts of Japan attack bamboo battle battlefield beauty budo bugeisha bujutsu bushi called calligrapher calligrapher’s brush century character Chinese clan classical compassion cultivation cutting daimyo danger DAVE LOWRY denote describe disciplines emotional etiquette exponent fighting Fudo furyu hand hara harmony Heian heiho ideograph Ieyasu ikebana instruction Japanese arts Japanese culture Japanese language Japanese martial arts journey judo jutsu kage kamae kanji karate kata keiko kendo learning master means mental military Minamoto mind modern bugei movement nature okuden omote and ura one’s opponent path period person perspective physical pictograph practice practitioner principles radical Sabaku samurai self selfdefense senior sense shiki Shinto shodo shugyo skills spear spirit strokes student sumo sword Taira Taoism target tea ceremony teacher teachings technique term thought Tokugawa traditional Japanese training hall understanding warrior class weapon Western word writing written yoyu zanshin