Waka poems from the Collection of Poems of a Thousand Years, Continued 1651

This is a section of ‘Waka poems from the Collection of Poems of a Thousand Years, Continued,’ made by Kojima Sōshin around the 17th century. Notice how the ink’s dark, almost gothic, quality gives a strong visual weight to the characters that contrasts with the delicate silk on which they are painted. This contrast isn't just aesthetic, it embodies the essence of the Waka form. Calligraphy, like poetry, is structured by rules, yet it allows for individual expression. Sōshin's brushstrokes, each a deliberate act, create a rhythm that guides our eyes across the scroll. The structure becomes a form of semiotic code, where each stroke signifies not just a letter but intent and emotion. The way the poem is laid out – a line here, a pause there – invites us to contemplate the space between words, the silence that amplifies meaning. This interplay of text and space isn’t fixed, but fluid. We are prompted to create our own interpretation, in a play between tradition and individual understanding.