“The Way of Calligraphy” — NY Buddhist Church Shodo Practice on
the Isle of Manhattan Above all, Shodo, the traditional Japanese
art of calligraphy is a meditative practice. Adopted from China
in the sixth or seventh century along with the introduction of
Buddhism, and once an educational rite of the ruling elite,
every Japanese student nowadays is required to study Shodo in
elementary school. One of many cultural arts, Shodo involves
five basic scripts: tensho (seal style), reisho (scribe’s
style), kaisho (block style), gyosho (semi-cursive style), and
sosho (cursive style). The practice requires a set of basic
materials, namely a fude (brush), washi (paper), suzuri (ink
stone) and sumi (ink-stick). Shodo classes are offered at the
New York Buddhist Church. twice a week under the supervision of
the Resident Minister – Rev. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki. I arrive
early for Shodo class one Tuesday. Outside birds chirp amid the
thick foliage protecting the residential neighborhood from a
continuous sound of zipping cars