Sacred Calligraphy of the East

Throughout the East, writing is held to be a gift from

the gods, and the divinely inspired letters and characters are

objects of the highest veneration. The religious significance

of calligraphy has thus led to a unique development of the art

of brush and ink in Japan, China, India, and Tibet. This beautifully

illustrated book covers such topics as the history and

spirit of Eastern calligraphy, the art of copying religious texts,

the biographies of important Zen calligraphers, and practical

instructions on materials and techniques for the contemporary

student. No knowledge of the languages discussed is required

for the reader to appreciate the study of this ancient practice.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where

he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi

University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator,

an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions

of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored

over thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts

on Aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has

also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring this classic

Sacred Calligraphy of the East. Other John Stevens titles that are

likely to be of interest include The Philosophy of Aikido, Extraordinary

Zen Masters, and The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei.