book contents

This is an abbrieveated version of the table of contents of the book.

Click the links to see a few snapshots and other details about the book.

  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  • INTRODUCTION TO KANJI CALLIG
  • RAPHY
  • THE MODERN JAPANESE LANGUAGE
  • THE STRUCTURE OF KANJI
  • THE TOOLS OF CALLIGRAPHY
  • WRITING POSTURE & HOLDING THE BRUSH
  • BEGINNING KANJI CALLIGRAPHY
  • BASIC BRUSH STROKE TECHNIQUE
  • THE KANJI CHARACTER LIBRARY
    • THE KANJI CHARACTER LIBRARY
    • Legend
    • Entry for Single Kanji Characters (the character "ai", or "love")
    • Listing of all characters in the main library.
    • Entries for Compound Kanji Words


To see a full Table of Contents, click here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The book begins with a short introduction to the author and a variety of her calligraphy works.

about the auther

INTRODUCTION TO KANJI CALLIGRAPHY

In the introduction, kanji is explained as far as their Chinese origin, how the characters are believed to have been developed; and the six categories into which are characters have been traditionally categorized.

Next, the history of how kanji was introduced to Japan is summarized with an emphasis to clarify how it resulted in the creation of hiragana and katakana.

Finally, the three primary script styles of Japanese calligraphy are shown and explained.

INTRODUCTION TO KANJI CALLIGRAPHYS

THE MODERN JAPANESE LANGUAGE

This section briefly introduces the student to the five main scripts used in written Japanese followed with a detailed description of the kana system; gojyu'on; and the various sound changes that occur with specific character groupings.

Next, the sounds of Japanese language are covered in somewhat detail to be sure the student has all the information needed in order to figure out the correct way to pronounce any character they find in a kanji dictionary. Romanization methods are also discussed.

Two full page spreads show the complete hiragana and katakana characters along with their stroke order and notes on usage and peculiarities.



THE STRUCTURE OF KANJI

This section explains in simple language the bits-and-pieces used to build kanji characters. Written in a step-by-step fashion, each important element of kanji is clearly defined and all important concepts are shown using graphic examples.

The fundamentals of kanji structure that you would expect to gain by reading several complex textbooks have been condensed into five pages of easy-to-understand reading that is essential knowledge for anyone who really wants to understand how kanji characters are built, classified, and searched

THE STRUCTURE OF KANJI

THE TOOLS OF CALLIGRAPHY

Illustrated in full color, the proper usage of all of the tools is clearly described, including suggestions on the types of tools most appropriate for beginners.

THE TOOLS OF CALLIGRAPHY

THE TOOLS OF CALLIGRAPHY

THE TOOLS OF CALLIGRAPHY

BASIC BRUSH STROKE TECHNIQUE

This section describes all the important fundamental movements used to render each of the basic strokes of kanji. Do's and don'ts, as well as the importance of brush pressure, angle and pauses.

BASIC BRUSH STROKE TECHNIQUE

BEGINNING KANJI CALLIGRAPHY

This is where the student learns to put it all together. Using one's skill of how to use the tools correctly, along with the knowledge of how the element of each character interlock in a specific pattern, the student learns to integrate this with pre-visualization in order to perfect their skills.

BEGINNING KANJI CALLIGRAPHY

LEGENDS AND NOTES ABOUT THE KANJI LIBRARY CHARTS



LIBRARY ENTRY
LOVE "Ai"

Here is the entry for the kanji character "ai", or "love".

There are two characters per page and the panel for each character is a full 6.5 x 9 inches 16.4 x 22.5 cm).

ai

KANJI LIBRARY LISTING

This is a listing showing all of the kanji characters contained in the library. To see what an individual character's entry looks like, see above

KANJI LIBRARY LISTING

LEGENDS AND NOTES ABOUT THE KANJI LIBRARY CHARTS

The last section of the book contains a listing of some compound kanji words with notes about character alignment, spacing, and pronunciation.

LEGENDS AND NOTES ABOUT THE KANJI LIBRARY CHARTS