Kakemono Ichi-go, Ichi-e – Calligraphy for the Tea Ceremony

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Period:
Shôwa (1926–1989)
Dimensions (height x width):
126 x 73 cm
Item number:
6165

This piece has been sold.

Sold – no longer available

This piece was a handmade one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.

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Details about the sold piece

  • JikusakiWood
  • Material HonshiPaper
  • MotifCalligraphy
  • TechniqueHand-Painted

Description

"Ichi-go, ichi-e" – literally "one life, one encounter" – appears in powerful, flowing calligraphy at the center of this kakemono. The expression can be freely translated as "one moment, one encounter" and is one of the best-known phrases closely associated with the Japanese tea ceremony.

The phrase serves as a reminder that every encounter and every moment is unique and unrepeatable, and should therefore be experienced with full attention and appreciation – an attitude that has been cultivated for centuries within the framework of chanoyu, the tea ceremony. The dynamic, energetic brushwork of the characters further emphasizes this immediacy of the moment.

Mounted on light-colored paper with a classic border, this kakemono is especially well suited for the tokonoma of a tea room or as a meaningful gift for occasions marked by genuine encounter and time spent together – a quiet yet compelling thought for everyday life.

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