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Chirashi-gaki

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Chirashi-gaki (散らし書き,[3] ちらし書き), meaning "scattered writing", is a creative calligraphic form of versification used in Japanese, often for waka (tanka) poems,[4][5][6] and in private letters.[7] The calligrapher may choose to deliberately write the characters out of order,[8] leaving the reader to puzzle out the correct sequence of characters to form the poem.[9] Chirashigaki may also retain the order, but divide and space the characters unconventionally, with a column break partway through a poetic line or a word.[10] It may also involve writing in darker or lighter ink, and beginning to write at various levels.[4][5]

Chirashi-gaki calligraphy by Hon'ami Kōetsu,[1] with a pattern printed using hinoki leaves dipped in gold and silver ink[2] (early 17th century). Note dramatic differences in the weight of the calligraphic lines. The poem, from the Kokin wakashū, describes autumn leaves floating down on a meltwater spate from the mountains. It reads:
　 此河に　もみぢばなかがる　おく山の
　 雪げの水ぞ　いまゝさるらし[1]

These techniques are used to give a sense of rhythm and depth, bringing the aesthetics of a painting to the calligraphy.[4] Chirashi-gaki slows and delinearizes the reading process, changing the read rhythm.[10] Chirashi-gaki effects are the subject of detailed academic study.[11] They may appear spontaneous and random, but they are often very calculated and carefully-crafted.[5]

Historically, it was also a convenient way of using expensive letter paper efficiently;[8] it is now often done on shikishi paper.[4] It became particularly popular among women in the Heian court (the Heian period is 794 to 1185) but subsequently remained popular.[7][4][12]

Poem from an anthology. Left team, Uma no naishi: "Au koto wa kore ya kagiri no tabi naramu kusa no makura mo shimogarenikeri": portrait of Ume no naishi
This poem by Uma no Naishi is written in chiragasaki, arranged by a schoolgirl studying calligraphy 790 years after the poet's death. The first part of the poem is written darkly in the third column from the right, while the second column from the right comes later in the poem. The third through sixth columns are written sequentially right-to-left but start successively further down the page; the remaining half of the poem is scattered among the earlier characters.[8]

Kana-chirashi further varies the writing by using various different types of kana.[13]

In translation

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Attempts have been made to render chirashi-gaki in English translations.[14] The style has also inspired musical compositions.[15]

The opera Da gelo a gelo, written in Italian, is based on the Diary of Izumi Shikibu. The seemingly-random jumps in pitch between the isolated melodic notes are intended to be reminiscent of chirashi-gaki.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Waka Poem from Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern with a Design of Moss Ferns". MET Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  2. ^ "A Poem from the Shin Kokinshu with Design of Shinobugusa (Moss Fern)". MET museum. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  3. ^ 世界大百科事典, 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),改訂新版. "散らし書き(ちらしがき)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e "What Is Shodo? | Virtual Culture | Kids Web Japan | Web Japan". web.archive.org. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Special Exhibition The Thirty-Six Immortal Poets: Elegant Arts of the Classical Japanese Court: A Guide to Waka and Kana Calligraphy" (PDF). Kyoto National Museum. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  6. ^ "【書道】Writing tanka poem with a method of chirashi-gaki; 散らし書き". 19 November 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Letters by Courtesans [late Edo, late 18th or early 19th century]". MET museum. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b c The Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets, A Poetry Album with Illustrations. George Braziller. 1991. p. 132. ISBN 0-8076-1257-X. Retrieved 7 December 2024., from commentary by Andrew J. Pekarik
  9. ^ "Chinese Characters in Various Scripts and Waka Poems". Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Brush Writing in the Arts of Japan". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  11. ^ Hirata 平田 Mitsuiko 光彦 (2022). "Chirashi-gaki no kōbunron 散らし書きの構図論" (PDF). Nihon kenkyū 日本研究 [~Japanese Studies] (in Japanese) (64). Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  12. ^ "散らし書き". shodo-kanji.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Special Exhibition: HOSOKAWA Gracia". www.ndl.go.jp. National Diet Library. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Hyakunin'shu: Reading the Hundred Poets in Late Edo Japan". UH Press. University of Hawaii Press. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  15. ^ Zukofsky, Paul. "Chirashi Gaki" (PDF). Musical Observations. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  16. ^ Opéra National de Paris promotional material, not currently findable online
 

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