Japanese Calligraphy: Moon

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 September – by Azumi Uchitani

金色の　秋の満月　神秘なり

kin iro no aki no mangetsu shinpi nari

Golden

Autumn full moon

The mysticism

月 Tsuki, getsu: Moon

Japan is known for being called ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ yet this island country has a strong relationship with the moon that has shaped its culture and beliefs. The autumn moon has been regarded as the most beautiful by the Japanese, and as September arrives, celebrations are held all over the nation to show appreciation for a successful harvest. The festival of Tsukimi, or admiring the full moon, dates back to the beginning of time.

This year we will enjoy Tsukimi between 10th and 13th of September. When you look up and watch the moon, think about Japanese folklore that says that the moon’s craters resemble an image of a rabbit pounding mochi (もち, rice cake) with a mallet. It is believed that a rabbit was brought to the moon by a mythical man. It’s all because this special rabbit was willing to throw himself into a fire and roast himself alive when the moon man, disguised as a beggar, asked the animals for food. As a reward, the rabbit got a one-way ticket to the moon!

Join the next Japanese Calligraphy class with Azumi Uchitani – hear more stories, enjoy a meditation session and practice creating character Tsuki.

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