Japanese Mai Calligraphy Scroll

Dancing Brushstrokes

There are two categories of traditional dance in Japan. They are known as Odori and Mai. Performed, Odori is rhythmic, fast-paced, vigorous and composed of energetic stepping movements. It’s like the Japanese version of “Riverdance.” Mai, on the other hand, is much more nuanced and reserved. It utilizes gentle circular movements and subtle arm and hand gestures. You can think of Mai as "Swan Lake" in slow motion. Like all types of dances, Odori and Mai are visual art forms whose nature has been documented in paintings, prints, drawings, video recordings, literature, and even calligraphy.

The scroll is composed of washi paper mounted on dyed silk

This week’s New Arrival features a calligraphy scroll from Japan. Brushed on traditional rice paper is a single character translated as the name “Mai.” In Japanese writing, characters are called kanji, and to a great extent they are stylized pictograms. In other words, the character illustrates the concept. It’s said, the character for Mai was derived from the image of a “shrine maiden” performing a ritual dance, her long kimono sleeves fluttering delicately as she moved. You can find her in the brushstrokes on this scroll; the movement of Mai forever captured in a single character.

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