Kakemono Calligraphy – One with the Universe

Everything in the universe is united in one heart – this philosophical thought, rooted in Zen Buddhism, was captured here in large, powerful characters that take up almost the entire height of the image. The brush begins each stroke with a dense, dark application and then trails off into energetic, at times dry strokes, so that the individual characters stand out from the light-colored surface in an almost sculptural way.

To the left of the main inscription is a smaller, multi-line dedication naming the occasion or recipient of the calligraphy – a common practice for works created as gifts or commissions. Two red seals confirm the authorship. The clear composition gives the script plenty of room to breathe and reinforces the meditative effect of the maxim.

The calligraphy is carried by paper, mounted in an olive-green, shimmering silk border with a subtle damask pattern, created in the Shôwa period. Anyone engaging with Zen thought or the philosophy of the unity of man and cosmos will find in this hanging scroll a vivid and at the same time powerful artistic realization of this theme.