World’s largest Buddhist sutra calligraphy opens in Japan
Thursday, 11/10/2018 16:17 (GMT+7)
The world’s largest Buddnist calligraphy of the Heart Sutra, drawn by Shoko Kanazawa, a 33 year-old calligrapher with Down’s syndrome, has attracted more than 40,000 people in Ryoun-ji Temple in central Japan.
Shoko Kanazawa, a 33 year-old calligrapher with Down’s syndrome (Source: Getty Images)
The powerful calligraphy measuring 4 meters high and 16 meters long, features 276 characters running from the ceiling to the floor, with the ink characters drawn with care and strength.
"The calligraphy reveals her soul which is as pure as the Buddha's. I want as many people as possible to see it," said Koshi Kimiya, the 40-year-old chief priest at Ryoun-ji Temple in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, which shows Kanazawa's work.
Ms. Shoko completed her work in 2015. It was to be the center piece for the exhibition celebrating her 30th birthday.
Shoko started practicing shodo (Japanese expressive calligraphy) at 5, inspired by her mother, who is also a shodo artist.
Shoko Kanazawa is one of the most famous calligraphers in the world. She has had exhibitions and performed live calligraphic writing more than a thousand times in Japan over the past 10 years, and has been featured in television and newspaper outlets across the globe. She has even given a speech at the UN headquarters in New York.
The Ryoun-ji Temple is also organizing an additional exhibit of calligraphy works by Kanazawa, from November 21st - December 3rd, which can be viewed free of charge./.
Compiled by BTA
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