形影一如 keiei ichinyo Inseparable as Form and Shadow

形影一如 (keiei ichinyo): form and shadow as one; two who are never apart.

形影一如 says two are as close as a body and its shadow. A shadow goes wherever its body goes, so the two are one thing seen twice. The phrase is said of a husband and wife who are always together. The same words also describe a person whose deeds show what is in the heart. It is a rare phrase, and a beautiful one. Whether you hang it for a marriage or for the match of heart and deed is yours.

形影一如 is composed of the word 形影 (read keiei) meaning "form and shadow" and 一如 (read ichinyo) meaning "oneness".

We want you to be as happy with the meaning as you are with Master Takase's art. To learn more, visit Philology of 形影一如.

Your scroll is brushed when you order it and completed within 1 to 3 business days. It ships by USPS Priority Mail from Master Takase's studio in Washington State, boxed and ready to hang, with a printed page giving the art's English, romaji and Japanese.

Sending it as a gift? Tell us when you order and we will include your message.

Shipping is calculated at checkout from your address; within the United States it is $13 to $22. We ship worldwide, and any import charges for your country are shown at checkout before you pay.

Every order is covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee. If your scroll arrives damaged, or we made an error, we replace it or refund you in full, including shipping. Refund policy

Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase brushes your scroll by hand when you order it. Each scroll bears her red seal, 英利, and her signature.

The scrolls are 12 1/4" W × 43" H (31 × 109 cm) with real silk borders and Japanese paper that are layered so the scroll hangs straight and will not warp over time. The scrolls themselves are made by Sankō (株式会社三幸) in Gifu prefecture, which has been making high quality scrolls since 1947, and we have worked with Sankō for over two decades.

Eri Takase was born and raised in Osaka, Japan, and holds the rank of Shihan, the highest rank in Japanese calligraphy, from the Bokuteki-kai and the Bunka-shodo. About Master Takase