Toranosuke is a graduate student in the Department of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and loves that he is able to make a living (such as it is at the moment on grad student stipends) engaging with Japanese history & traditional art, rather than with charts & figures, paperwork and business meetings.
He holds a MA in Japanese Studies and one in Art History, and has interned in the Japanese art sections of several prominent cultural institutions. He aspires towards a career either as a professor and scholar of Japanese history, or in the museum world or another capacity, working with Japanese history, art, and culture. A few years ago, he completed a year-long intensive Japanese language course, and is eager to return to Japan, feeling for the first time confident that his language skills are up to the challenge of living and working there “for real”, as a 社会人, a member of society, rather than as a temporarily visiting student.
Hello –
Over two centuries ago, Japanese Zen master Hakuin Ekaku posed the now-famous koan, “What is the sound of one hand?” Although extensive meditation on koans such as this kept Ekaku focused, he utilized beautiful calligraphic art as a mode of expression as well. His artwork is elegant but also whimsical, and appeals equally to both the untrained eye and that of a true Zen aficionado.
Audrey Yoshiko Seo and Stephen Addiss have compiled the first ever comprehensive collection of pieces by the preeminent Japanese Zen master and artist entitled, The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin (Shambhala, July 2010). The book’s release coincides with major exhibitions of his work in New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles between 2010 and 2011. This beautifully produced, large-format art book brings together more than one hundred of Hakuin’s greatest works, from Japanese national treasures such as “Blind Men Crossing Bridge” to incidental pieces brushed in moments of inspiration and given as gifts to his students.
The major traveling exhibition of Hakuin’s work, also called “The Sound of One Hand,” contains all of the book’s works on display at the show. Corresponding with the book’s release, the Japan Society will be hosting a gallery in New York City which will run from October 1, 2010 through January 9, 2011. The showing then moves to the New Orleans Museum of Art (February 12–April 17, 2011) and finally to Los Angeles County Museum (dates to be finalized).
Using traditional Buddhist images and sayings—but also themes from folklore and daily life—Hakuin created a new visual language for Zen: profound, capricious, and unlike anything that came before. His art, combined with his voluminous writings, stands as a monument to his teaching, revealing why he is the most important Zen master of the past five hundred years.
If you are interested in reviewing or excerpting The Sound of One Hand in your blog, A Man with Tea, we would love to send you a free copy of this beautiful art book. Simply respond to this email with your thoughts, as well as mailing information to which we can send your copy. Rest assured, this information is kept private and for one-time use only. We hope you find an interest in our book, thank you for your time!
Best wishes,
Joni Bouley
Publicity Intern
Shambhala Publications
Marketing-intern@shambhala.com
Toranosuke, just a short note to say how much I enjoy reading your posts. I’ve especially enjoyed reading about your journey as a Kabuki actor in training. Your report on the recent Kabuki symposium was also fascinating. (I don’t want to take anything away from your other posts, either!) Some friends and I just formed a Kabuki appreciation club this year in the San Francisco Bay Area. We get together at least bimonthly to watch Kabuki classics and participate in other events related to Japanese theatre.
At any rate, I was wondering if it would be ok to link to your blog on our group website. We’d also be honored if you’d join our Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/jetaanc-kabuki-club The Google Group includes a message board where we post recent news from the Kabuki world. Please feel free to post there anytime!
Again, thanks again for your wonderful blog. I can see you going far in the world of cultural and international studies!
Mark,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts, and for inviting me to this group.
It’s very exciting that such a group exists. I hope that someday I might get the chance to join you in person for your meetings.
Yoroshiku.
Hello.You’re awesome! I am Japanese and live in Saitama.
I don’t know about Japan so much.
But recently I began to write about Japanese things by my poor English.
I want to read your blog in the future.
Thank you for your kind words! I apologize that I don’t write more often in Japanese; I probably should. It would be good practice. Thank you for reading!