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.
Nectar: 密
The literal meaning of kanji character 密 is “nectar” or “honey.” However, its meaning has a much broader connotation. Beyond its association with sweetness, 密 is also utilised to signify private and highly confidential meetings, known as 密会 (mikkai), often conducted by political or business leaders to discuss sensitive matters away from public scrutiny. Additionally, this character is associated with clandestine romantic relationships, where secret lovers engage in intimate encounters shielded from public view. In these contexts, 密 embodies the notion of secrecy, exclusivity, and intimacy, representing human experience that are cherished and kept discreet from the outside world. Thus, the Kanji 密 serves as a powerful symbol of both the seductive allure of the hidden and the necessity of discretion in sensitive affairs, whether political, romantic, or otherwise.
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