lack of confidence shows up in the work. The calligrapher must concentrate and be fluid in execution. The brush writes a statement about the calligrapher at a moment in time (see Hitsuzendō, the Zen way of the brush). Through Zen, Japanese calligraphy absorbed a distinct Japanese aesthetic often symbolised by the ensō or circle of enlightenment. Zen calligraphy is practiced by Buddhist monks and most shodō practitioners. To write Zen calligraphy with mastery, one must clear one's mind and let the letters flow out of themselves, not practice and make a tremendous effort. This state of mind was called the by the Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro. It is based on the principles of Zen Buddhism, which stresses a connection to the spiritual rather than the physical. Before Japanese tea ceremonies (which are connected to Zen Buddhism), one is to look at a work of shodō to clear one's mind. This is considered an essential step in the preparation for a tea ceremony. See also Fudepen – Modern stationery to write calligraphic scripts. List of National Treasures of Japan (writings) Sumi-e (Japanese ink painting) is related in method. Suzuri-bako (Japanese writing box) Barakamon – a manga based on Japanese calligraphy Notes References History of Japanese calligraphy (), Hachiro ONOUE (), 1934 Yuuko Suzuki, Introduction to japanese calligraphy, Search Press, 2005. External links Shodo Journal Research Institute Shodo. Japanese calligraphy Brush Calligraphy Galleries Japanese Calligraphy galleries and more (hungarian language) The History of Japanese Calligraphy In English, at BeyondCalligraphy.com Bridge of dreams: the Mary Griggs Burke collection of Japanese art, a catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Japanese calligraphy Dō History of art in Japan