Fine Japanese Calligraphy

The Art of Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase

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Home › Words › Austere Elegance

渋み shibumi Austere Elegance

The Japanese word 渋み literally means "astringency" or "astringent taste" and is related to the word 渋い (read shibui), however, 渋み is used to mean the Japanese aesthetic of "austere elegance" or "quiet beauty".

The word 渋み has been commonly written differently over the centuries. That is, the word is the same, the meaning is the same, but the "spelling" is different. Previously, the all kanji 渋味 was common. However, "recently" 渋み has gained favor and the reasoning is clear: shibumi is quintessentially Japanese and writing shibumi partly or all in hiragana makes the word itself uniquely Japanese.

Here I include designs for all three variations: 渋味, 渋み, and しぶみ. My personal preference is to use 渋み though you can correctly choose the design and the spelling that appeals to you.

Austere Elegance (渋み) in Block style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Block VB2C
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Block style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Block VB2D
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Cursive VC2B
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Cursive VC2C
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Design style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Design VD3B
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Semi-Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Semi-Cursive VS2C
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Semi-Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Semi-Cursive VS2D
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Semi-Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Semi-Cursive VS2E
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Hiragana style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Hiragana VH2A
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Hiragana style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Hiragana VH2B
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Hiragana style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Vertical Hiragana VH2C
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Block style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Horizontal Block HB2A
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Horizontal Cursive HC2A
Austere Elegance (渋み) in Semi-Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase
Austere Elegance 渋み shibumi Horizontal Semi-Cursive HS2A
About the Designs

Each design is Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase's hand-brushed calligraphy of the word or phrase on this page, delivered as a PDF you can print. Every PDF includes the line art, so a tattoo artist or a craftsperson can work from the outline as well as the brushed image.

Licensing

Your purchase includes a personal-use license: use the design as a tattoo reference, frame it, engrave it, print it for yourself, or make it into a gift. For more information see Licensing, which also covers commercial-use options that may be purchased separately.

Delivery

Your PDF is available for download the moment your order completes, and a copy is attached to your emailed receipt.

If you need your design again later, ask us for it and we will send it.