A Shrine Banner: Beautifully Gestural Calligraphy

likely mid-to-late nineteenth century
63 1/12" x 12 1/2", 161 cm x 32 cm

What gloriously gestured calligraphy is shown on this Shinto shrine banner.

It is undated (except for naming it as "the second month") but judging by the type of hand spun cotton yarns used to weave the cloth it is pretty safe to say this dates to the mid-to-late nineteenth century.

The writing has spirit and force and there is great nuance to be seen in the brushwork: it is easy to visualize the way the calligrapher lifted the brush after making a stroke or the way the arm gestured in order to fashion a certain line.

The banner was seemingly made to commemorate a donor, which is often the case, and the power to be found in the drawing of the kanji or Chinese characters, is more than impressive.

Recommended.