{"product_id":"large-mid-century-japanese-sumi-ink-calligraphy-sacred-siddham-bonji-syllable-1972","title":"Large Mid-Century Japanese Sumi Ink Calligraphy – Sacred Siddham Bonji Syllable (1972)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis piece is a bold, modern interpretation of a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSiddham seed syllable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (known in Japanese as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBonji\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 梵字).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than a traditional watercolor painting, this is a work of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZen\/Esoteric Buddhist calligraphy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e executed in sumi ink on paper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObject Identification\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1. The Subject Matter: Seed Syllable (Bīja \/ Bonji)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe central character is a highly stylized, dynamic rendering of a Sanskrit seed syllable used in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyō, specifically the Shingon and Tendai sects).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBased on the distinctive top crescent (candrabindu), the sharp horizontal cross-bar, and the fluid lower loops, this represents a powerful variant of a sacred syllable—most likely \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHrī\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eḥ (the seed syllable for Amida Nyorai \/ Amitabha Buddha and Senju Kannon \/ Avalokiteshvara, symbolizing compassion and meditation) or a variant of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHū\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eṃ (representing cosmic mind and protection).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInstead of the rigid, block-like strokes found in traditional temple wooden styluses (bokuhitsu), the artist used a soft animal-hair brush to execute the character with dramatic hihaku (飛白) or \"flying white\" technique, where the speed of the brush allows the white paper to peek through, conveying immense movement and spiritual energy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2. Signature and Date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Signature:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The signature at the bottom right is written in a stylized Western cursive hand rather than traditional Japanese characters or a red ink seal (hanko). It appears to read \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Aoyama\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e or a similar phonetic Japanese surname transliterated into English. This strongly indicates a mid-to-late 20th-century Japanese contemporary artist or a Western practitioner trained deeply in the Bonji tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Date:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Next to the signature is the clear inscription \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"\/72\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, dating the piece precisely to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1972\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"I Ching Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47829830664244,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0763\/4242\/7700\/files\/IMG-8501.png?v=1783999456","url":"https:\/\/ichingantiques.com\/products\/large-mid-century-japanese-sumi-ink-calligraphy-sacred-siddham-bonji-syllable-1972","provider":"I Ching Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}