Have you ever looked at a character and imagined the personality of the person who wrote it?
With the spread of computers and smart phones, we have fewer opportunities to see handwritten characters, but the topic of handwriting and personality does come up once in a while in Japan.
When I see the characters with stretchy strokes that protrude from the frame, I hear that they seem to have an open mind.
On the other hand, when I see small, evenly spaced letters, I think that the person must be very meticulous.
Historical Background
This may have something to do with the history of Japan.
Let me tell you a story from the Heian period(794-1185).
Only the nobility can still read and write. In addition, the Heian period was a time when beautiful things were loved, and intelligence and culture were also signs of wealth for both men and women.
Noblewomen do not show their faces in public. In order to meet a woman they are interested in, men first send her a love letter. At this stage, the man has not yet seen the woman's face.
When men fell in love with women, what was important were things that were not clearly visible, such as "good bloodline," "education," and "good sense".
Rules of Waka和歌(わか)
Men send waka to women. Waka is like a poem, but there are rules.
1. 31 characters in total, 5.7.5.7.7.
2. A single letter can have two or more meanings.
3. We have to use a predetermined makura word (poetic epithet convention).
2. is to put the meaning of あき(飽き) "bored" into the sentence of あき(秋)"autumn". We use words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings.
In English, it would be wine and whine.
It may look like a waka poem about nature, but it can also have a meaning about love.
There are many other word play techniques used in waka poetry.
It's tough being a Heian era person because they had to be good at waka to get married and move up the career ladder.
Correspondence
Correspondence was a way to get to know each other's culture and sense of beauty.
They felt a good sense in the choice of words and meanings in waka poems, and deepened their love for each other.
The beauty of handwriting is also an important factor in understanding a person's culture.
After exchanging a few waka, if the woman agrees, the man can meet her for the first time.
Of the 100 cards used in the sports karuta game "Hyakunin Isshu.
43 of them are waka poems of love.
It is difficult for us today to read them, but I am interested in them and have been studying them little by little.
It's kind of romantic to look at the letters and imagine each other.🤗
If you want to know more about Hyakunin Isshu, I have written a bit about it here.
Have you ever seen the short anime movie "The garden of the word"? "It is directed by Makoto Shinkai, famous for "Your Name."
It is a modern story, but there is a scene where people exchange waka.
The beauty of the images is also wonderful.
It is one of my favorite anime.
Please watch it alone on a rainy day.
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