Japanese hieroglyphs originated from drawings
Chinese hieroglyphs first appeared in Japan during the Heian period. However, the phonetic structure of Japanese speech differs significantly from Chinese. Therefore, a new writing system was needed to accurately reproduce sounds in written form. Thus, kana was invented – a specific syllabary system. And hieroglyphs themselves originated from drawings.
Calligraphy as a written art gained popularity in Japan during the Heian period, when it was used to write texts of Buddhist prayers, sayings, and poems. They wrote with special brushes dipped in black ink on special colored sheets of paper.
It should be noted that in calligraphy, not only the skill of the masters in terms of graphics is important, but also the philosophical beliefs of their authors, their judgments, depth of thought. Both old and new scrolls containing hieroglyphic ligatures of various styles and handwriting differed in concept, as well as in dynamics and expressiveness.
The individual uniqueness of each author was unmistakably discerned both by the manner of writing and by the force of pressure, stroke – either continuous, whole, or intermittent, as if unfinished, with airy light gaps, as if the brush had run out of ink.
The uniqueness of hieroglyphic calligraphy reflects the spirit of the times, certain features of the era, its elusive traits. For example, the earliest period of writing development is characterized by pictorial strokes in the drawing of hieroglyphic signs, resembling bird tracks or tadpoles.
And the early medieval period was characterized by a unique ligature of cursive script "caozi", also called "grass characters", as well as italic writing with sharpened and straightened strokes and clearly written standard hieroglyphs. At the moment of drawing hieroglyphs, the artist puts his thoughts and feelings into them, so calligraphic hieroglyphic writing becomes akin to a painting.
Every year in Tokyo, the Japan Calligraphy Championship is held. It involves ten thousand finalists who passed qualifying rounds in districts, cities, and prefectures. On the arena of the sports palace, ten thousand sheets were laid out, and each participant wrote on their sheet the hieroglyph meaning "happiness". All the drawn signs were completely different, there were not even two identical hieroglyphs, because each person experiences happiness in their own way, and there are no two people who rejoice or suffer the same way.
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