"Enso" Kazuaki Tanahashi

There’s no mistaking a Kazuaki Tanahashi enso. Sometimes called “a Zen circle” in English, an enso symbolizes enlightenment. Creating an enso can be a contemplative art, while the final product can serve as a meditation aid. They’re most often rendered, using one or two strokes, on white paper with black ink, but Tanahashi creates vibrant ensos in oceanic blues and greys or fiery reds and oranges.

Tanahashi was born in Japan in 1933 and, as a boy, studied with Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Today, Tanahashi is a trained calligrapher known as “the pioneer of one-stroke painting.” “The quality of the line is what matters most—how deep, strong, or honest it is,” he explains. “If your personality is interesting enough, the line will be interesting. To do this, you have to be fearless.” Tanahashi is also a Zen teacher, author, activist, and translator of Buddhist texts, most notably of works by Dogen.

Learn more about this artist at: www.brushmind.net

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See our About page for help with selecting the right size. All prints are archival-quality, fine-art giclée reproductions.