Japanese Calligraphy: Autumn

This is a series of workshops designed by Azumi Uchitani to explore Japanese culture through the art of calligraphy and language. We will meet bi-weekly, slowly moving from season to season and uncovering new characters, rituals, concepts and beliefs deeply rooted in Japanese lifestyle. Each event we will centre around a new symbol: we will learn its meaning, discuss a poem about it, meditate and experience the power of the concept through calligraphy practice.

Haiku of October – by Azumi Uchitani

色豊か　心が弾む秋の山

iro yutaka kokoro ga hazumu aki no iro

Abundance of colours

Dancing with joy

In the autumn mountains

秋 Aki, shu: Autumn

Appreciating nature and the changing of the seasons has long been a part of Japanese culture. However, Japan in Autumn is both an aesthetic and a spiritual experience. The country’s autumnal colourful foliage has inspired and attracted ‘leaf chasers’, locals and travelers. It is a season that is richly portrayed in Japanese literature, poems and music.

Just like the tradition to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, it is a Japanese’ favourite seasonal outing to view and celebrate koyo 紅葉 ‘rouge foliage’, momiji-gari or ‘red leaf hunting’ with observing a fleeting nature of life, which is a fundamental idea to both – Shinto and Buddhism practices. Autumn relishes our senses and brings rich cultural and spiritual experience after hot and humid summertime.

Join our calligraphy session with Azumi Uchitani and experience a bliss of community gathering, crafts and meditation.

GUIDE – AZUMI UCHITANI
Azumi Uchitani is an Intercultural business consultant, keynote speaker, writer, artist and founder of Japanese SALON art & culture, based in the Netherlands. She is a two-times TEDx speaker, appearing Dutch TV and media and delivering talks to an international audience in Europe and in the US.
Azumi is on a mission to build an essential bridge between Japan and Europe, helping global leaders discover Japanese ancient wisdom beyond culture, teaching how to apply its wisdom in everyday life, act with inner peace and create
conscious leadership and fulfilling life. Azumi decodes the complexity of Japanese culture, tradition, philosophy, spirituality and unspoken rules into a simple essence of wisdom. She was born into a traditional spiritual Japanese family and raised with the teachings of Shingon Buddhism and Shinto. The spiritual and cultural practices, such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy have always been a part of her life, besides that, her grandmother was a kimono maker.
Her insights, a series of talks are available on her YouTube channel ‘5 minutes on Japanese Wisdom’ on YouTube.

http://www.azumiuchitani.com