JP      EN     /     FR     /    KR    /    CN

Master Calligrapher

Fuyoh Kobayashi

Spirit of Japan,

woven by a calligraphy brush

Personal Profile

Fuyoh Kobayashi (Master Calligrapher)

 

Started learning the basics of calligraphy in her early childhood. At the age of thirty, her calligraphic work was selected as one of the top three from among one hundred thousand works presented at a calligraphy exhibition held by the All Japan Sho Federation. This work received the President Kaido Tanaka Award, named after one of the "Three Giant Calligraphers of the Showa era." While teaching calligraphy and Haiga (a Haiku painting illustrating the world of Haiku) at The Australian National University from 1976 to 1977, Fuyoh held the first calligraphy exhibition sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Australia. "Calligraphy expresses the inner self of the calligrapher." This is the motto of Fuyoh. Therefore, when she teaches calligraphy, she values the development of personality rather than writing techniques. Currently, she shares her own philosophy through lecture meetings and by writing calligraphy. Due to her high spiritual nature, she has many fans from a variety of fields.

 

Currently, Fuyoh holds demonstration exhibitions to show symbolic calligraphy in various countries around the world, including China, South Korea, Israel, Hawaii (USA) and Italy. She has offered her calligraphy as a gift to the Pope. Fuyoh takes pride in spreading the "Spirit of Japan, woven by a calligraphy brush." Domestically, she writes calligraphic works at temples and shrines throughout Japan, including at Ise Jingu shrine, Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha shrine and Koyasan Kongobuji temple for dedication. When Fuyoh writes calligraphy, she uses sumi kneaded with water from a total of no less than 910 holy sites around the world as of 2019. She brings down her brush after concentrating to gather the sprits from the universe, earth and people, hoping for the happiness of all people. She writes what is called the "calligraphy of healing" or the "calligraphy of light" filled with energy from water, providing a deep impression and inspiring people beyond racial or religious schools.

 

International goodwill activities performed by Fuyoh over a long period of time have been highly valued, and in 2015, she became the only Japanese citizen to be awarded with the "Excellent Award of International Cultural Exchange" of the Government of China. That same year she was also presented a plaque of compliments for Japanese-South Korean friendship by the Government of South Korea. In 2018, Fuyoh became the first foreigner to hold a calligraphy exhibition at Daxing Shansi (the head temple of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism) in Xian, China where Kobo-Daishi Kukai had stayed as an ascetic monk.

 

In Arashiyama, Kyoto, she manages "Shoraian," a tofu based traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant in a renovated house that had been the cottage of Fumimaro Konoe, a former Prime Minister of Japan. As Okami (proprietress), Fuyoh, through the cuisine she serves, passes along the wa no kokoro (sprits of harmony) to both domestic guests and visitors from other countries.

 

Media

Appeared on ANA's site for foreign countries,

"Great Big Story."

New book, "MIZUKAGAMI (Water Mirror) - Forty-nine Kotodama (miraculous power of words) that awaken the spiritual mind within you"

All that happen in the lower world are the things in your mind reflected in the water mirror.

Forty-nine Kotodama (miraculous power of words) that awaken the spiritual mind within you.

Buy at Amazon

"Live Like Water" Author: Fuyoh Kobayashi

Why we feel pain?

Why we are unable to calm our anger?

37 important things to purify your mind.

Buy at Amazon

Wrote the title letter "Koto (ancient capital)"

for a movie and appeared in the movie as

a master calligrapher.

Film designated as a special film by the Ministry of

Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

A special film invited to the Kyoto Historica

International Film Festival

Sponsored by: Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City

Official Website

Wrote the title of the movie

"Ichiyo Raifuku,Life Goes On."

Film designated as a special film by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Film specially recommended by the Social Security Council of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Film awarded the Child Welfare Cultural Award (Film and Media sector)

Film recommended by Advisory Council on Children's Film Viewing of the Film Classification and Rating Organization

Official Website

"Arashiyama Shoan"

MOVIES

Wrote "Sakura (Cherry blossoms)" part of the title of the movie "Sorokin no mita sakura," shown on the title screen. Official Website

 

Wrote the title of the television program "Lee Ye, the first Korean correspondent" (a documentary film jointly produced by Japanese and South Korean filmmakers)

 

Wrote the title of the television program "The Light Connecting the Straits: Jewel Beetles, a Girl and the Romanticism of Japanese and Korean History" (a documentary film jointly produced by Japanese and South Korean filmmakers) Official Website

 

Wrote the title of and cosponsored the television program "Prayer: Dialogue with something great" Official Website

STAGE

Wrote the title of "Kurenai Tennyo (Rouge Angel)," a play within a play called "Garasu no kamen (Glass Mask)" (produced by Suzue Miuchi)

Other Books/Magazines

Wrote "Kobayashi Fuyoh sakuhinshu 'Mizu' Works WATER ('Mizu [Water]' Works WATER, a collection of works by Fuyoh

Kobayashi)" (published by Shodogeijutsusha)

 

Wrote "Kobayashi Fuyoh sakuhinshu 'Mizu' ('Mizu [Water]', a collection of works by Fuyoh Kobayashi)" (published by Sogensha)

 

Collectively wrote "Negai wo inori ni (Changing Hope to Prayer)" (published by Kankyo-Ishiki Communication Research Institute)

 

Wrote the title of the book "Burunei yori ai wo komete (From Brunei with Love)" (Author: Yusuf Pengiran, the first prime minister of Brunei)

 

Wrote the title of the book "Ikiru (To live)" (Author: Eichi Kei, published by Rifure Shuppan)  Official Website

 

Serialized in "Hikari no sho (The Book of Light)." The Book of Light was started by Yukio Funai.Currently, an essay is being published on a monthly basis in the newsletter magazine of "Ningen Club" presided by Katsuhito Funai.

 

Providing an essay on a regular basis to the community magazine "Hello Asahi."

Shoraian

After the careful renovation of the building, Shoraian opened in August, 2005. Operating as a restaurant by Fuyoh and her husband, it serves excellent Yudofu while the calligraphic works of Fuyoh can be enjoyed. Shoraian had been called the "Cottage of former Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe." It was named Shoraian by him and his own writing of the name has been framed and is still on display in the house.

Click here for the website of Shoraian

Gallery

"Hikari (Light)" (2017)

When people die, we become lights and ascend high in the sky. At this moment, one can take with them neither money nor honor. The only thing that one can take is one's soul. Depending on the behavior of a person, a soul can dazzle brightly. How hard one has lived their lives for others, this is the sole thing that brightens their soul. Since souls further intensify their brightness, they will, in time, return to the lower world. In terms of Buddhism, this is called "Reincarnation."

"Tamashii (Soul)" (2015)

A person is upholding a soul, something akin to sacred gems. A soul is a gemstone. Everyone has a soul which is like a shining gemstone. The gemstone becomes polished as you face hardship with sincerity. Someday, it will become your true soul emitting a dazzling light.

"Fuji-san (Mt. Fuji)" (2015)

From the first brush stroke, making that stroke with renewed vigor. The droplets of sumi ink are as if they illustrate the summit of Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji is the best-known mountain in Japan and known around the world. It is said to be the most important spiritual mountain and is the object of strong faith.

"Ryuo (Dragon King)" (2016)

When a map of Japan is viewed from above, the country appears to be a dragon. Dragons administer water. And thus the dragon has been an object of faith as a god in the form of dragon since olden times. When the Ryuo moves, a tremendous amount of aqueous energy also moves. This destroys all things, purifies them and reproduce them.

"Yutaka (Wealth)" (2014)

his has the appearance of a god with a crown. This could be because the place of writing was Ise Jingu Shrine. The Toyo'uke-daijingu shrine (Geku) is dedicated to the god, Toyo'uke-no-Omikami. It may well be a good idea to consider "What is true wealth," while thinking of the god representing wealth.

Block style writing

Semi-cursive

style writing

Cursive style writing

"Santai senjimon

(Long poems of Chinese classics)"

The Santai senjimon, along with Analects of Confucius as educational materials for the purpose of imperial education, was brought into Japan by the scholar Wani, who was called in from Kudara by the Emperor Ojin for his son (later, the Emperor Nintoku). In 2006, Fuyoh Kobayashi donated the calligraphy of the Senjimon to the Scholar Wani Resource Center in South Korea. The South Korean people greatly appreciated the "return of the Senjimon." After some time, a certificate of appreciation was presented to Fuyoh Kobayashi by the governor of Yeongam county and the chairman of Yeongam County Local Festival Promotion Committee.

"Wa (Harmony)"

The woman in the center dressed in a Kimono appears to be offering a prayer, or shedding tears. The radical of this character is a "round shape," expressing an absolute truth called "Ichienso (the truth, Buddhism and the universe represented by a circle)" in the way of Zen Buddhism. "Wa (harmony)" is the Wa of Chowa (harmony), Heiwa (peace) and wa wo motte totoshi to nasu (harmony is the greatest of virtues) - an idiom derived from historical events and classical Chinese literature. Wa expresses the mindset of Japanese people. May the world be a round and harmonized world filled with people who think of others.

"In to yo (Yin and Yang)" (2008)

The sky and the ground, gods and Buddha, man and woman, good and bad ....., the universe is composed of a well-balanced Yin and Yang.

The world will lose its balance if one of them is missing or when one is stronger than the other. With both of them existing, the total balance will be maintained.

 

 

"Sei (Holiness)" (2008)

A saint is alone, kneeling down and bowing in prayer. No matter how serious his troubles are, the devoutness of the saint will never be lost.

 

"Mizu (Water)" (2010)

Water can be held in a variety of vessels and freely changes its shape. Water creates life, cultivates this life and sometimes it throws people tempestuously. Nevertheless, people live with water. People accept everything and live like water.

"Gei (Salute)" (2008)

Written in Israel. This work has been well received in countries around the world. People make their own interpretation of the character’s meaning. This character has an epical mood. It is said that this character expresses Noah's ark, the time when a god descends to earth or the moment of conception.

"Hi tsuki (Sun and Moon)" (2014)

A water well is called Ido or "Manai" in Japan. The moon is called "Manai." The moon energy is the water energy. The sun's energy is Yang and that of moon is Yin. In this work, both astronomical objects are balanced and emitting energies that are well-balanced in the middle. It is also the state in which karma has been purified as both poles are well-balanced.

"Joge (Up and Down)"

Whatever you experience and however bad the day was, the sun will set and then rise again the next morning. Similar to the situation by which people live their lives day by day, the sky, ground and everything occur repeatedly and are freshly reborn at the start of a new day. The same day never occurs again.

"Sui, ten, ko, jin (Water, Sky, Light, Man)" (2018)

With water as the background, characters expressing the sky, light and man are written in a style of ancient Chinese hieroglyphic characters left on bones and tortoise carapaces. People live under a great mind. Do not look down on others, be humble and thankful for everything you have in your lives. Then, people will be able to feel the great mind within themselves.

"Kami (God)" (2018)

"Kami" written in a style of ancient Chinese hieroglyphic characters left on bones and tortoise carapaces.These characters are the oldest form of calligraphy. They duplicate the power of the incantation meant by the character. The god administers both Yin and Yang, therefore, he was the whole world. At the time of the creation of heaven and earth, a god came down to the earth which was still in the chaotic stage. Then, the god created all life on earth. Each being created by the god is the god himself. At the same time, all were the beloved children of the god.

Copyright 2010-2020 Fuyoh Kobayashi,

Master Calligrapher, All Rights Reserved.