The Way of the Spear (槍道, sōdō), Hanging Scroll

$220

槍道 (sōdō), "the way of the spear," hand-brushed by Master Calligrapher Eri Takase in the block style and mounted as a hanging scroll.

槍 (sō) is the spear. 道 (dō) is the way, the path one follows for life, as in 剣道 (kendō), the way of the sword, and 空手道 (karate dō). The usual name of the Japanese spear art is 槍術 (sōjutsu), the spear technique. 槍道, the way of the spear, has been in print since 1895, but it never replaced 槍術 the way 剣道 and 柔道 replaced their older names. This scroll carries the word the tradition reached for and never settled on.

The scroll is brushed to order for this commission and bears Eri's signature, 英利, and her red seal. A two-page Scroll Guide about the art comes in the box.