Zen Garden
Calligraphy and the art of ink painting has inspired the design of our Zen Clocks.
One of our most popular dial faces features the calligraphy character for “dream” set against a rice paper or bamboo background. Japanese characters are called “kanjis” and so this dial is called the “Dream Kanji.”
Another dial face features the kanji for “Inner Peace” set against the raked sand of a Zen rock garden.
Although our “Bamboo motif” dial face has no calligraphy per se, it is inspired by the tradition of ink painting, which is a close relative of calligraphy.
Dream Kanji Dial
Bamboo Kanji Dial
Zen Garden Dial
Bamboo Motif Dial
Japanese Interior Living Space
Below is a description of this ancient art.
The flowing, brush-drawn Japanese language lends itself to complicated calligraphy. Calligraphic art is often too esoteric for Western audiences and therefore general exposure is very limited. However in East Asian countries, the rendering of text itself is seen as a traditional artform as well as a means of conveying written information. The written work can consist of phrases, poems, stories, or even single characters. The style and format of the writing can mimic the subject matter, even to the point of texture and stroke speed. In some cases it can take over one hundred attempts to produce the desired effect of a single character but the process of creating the work is considered as much an art as the end product itself.
Calligraphy and the Art of Ink Painting used in Zen Alarm Clocks
This art form is known as ‘Shodo’ which literally means ‘the way of writing or calligraphy’ or more commonly known as ‘Shuji’‘learning how to write characters’.
Commonly confused with Calligraphy is the art form known as ‘Sumi-e’ literally means ‘ink painting’ which is the art of painting a scene or object.
Japanese Ink Painting
Visit Now & Zen’s Showroom
1638 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
(800) 779-6383
Posted in Chime Alarm Clocks, Japanese Inspired Zen Clocks, Now & Zen Alarm Clocks, Zen Gardens
