All Japanese children learn Japanese Calligraphy or Shodou (書道) in school and it is also a popular hobby amongst adults.
Shodou is the art of drawing beautiful characters and can be literally translated as "writing way". As with many Japanese arts, historically there were many Chinese influences but over time Shodou became distinctly Japanese.
The oldest remaining Japanese Calligraphy is at Japan's oldest temple Heijō-kyō in Nara. It is in the distinctly Chinese style of Shakeitai.
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Japanese Calligraphy site map
