The Resolve Captured in Ink—The Aesthetics of “Totally Bombed” by Calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki

A single line born from the tip of a brush.

It is not merely a black trace.

The two characters “totally bombed” spun by the hand of calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki embody beauty and strength, and human resolve.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／

Like Jade Shattering to Pieces—The Spirit Embedded in “Totally Bombed”

“Totally bombed” (玉砕).
What do you feel when you encounter these words?

Originally, this term derives from the Chinese historical text “Book of Northern Qi.”
“Better to shatter like jade than to survive intact like a tile”
—choosing to scatter as beautiful jade rather than living long as a worthless tile.
Within this lies an aesthetic of no compromise and an aspiration toward a life that refuses to bend one’s principles.

When gazing at Shourin Iwasaki’s “totally bombed,” this very spirit rises from the powerful brushstrokes.

The Vitality Expressed Through the Dance of the Brush

Please look at the image.

The character for “jade” (玉) resembles a bird stretching toward the heavens.
The sweeps spreading left and right evoke the moment of spreading wings in flight. And then “shatter” (砕).
Shourin writes this character, with its complex structure, in one bold, sweeping motion.
The gradations of ink, the force of the brush, the handling of space—everything is calculated yet brimming with the vitality of improvisation.

The red seal stamped in the lower left anchors the entire work.
Black and red.
Yin and yang.
Life and death.
Opposing elements harmonize to create a unified world.

A Question for Those of Us Living in Modern Times

There are expressions like “resolve to be totally bombed” and “spirit of totally bombed.”
In contemporary society, efficiency and rationality often take priority, and surviving in any form is valued over scattering beautifully.

However, Shourin’s calligraphy asks us.

Aren’t there things in life that must never be compromised?
Isn’t there beauty that cannot be negotiated?
Isn’t there a state of the soul that cannot be measured by efficiency or profit and loss?

The art of calligraphy is an act of carving eternity into a moment of concentration.
There are no second chances.
Hesitation appears in the brush; resolve dwells in the ink.
Within the two characters “totally bombed” is sealed the sharpened spirit of the moment when the calligrapher took up the brush.

Poetry Woven in Ink

Shatter, beautifully
Be jade rather than tile

In the torrent of deep black ink
A soul resides

In each stroke and line
Life is carved

It is a prayer
It is resolve
It is a hymn to beauty

In the moment of scattering
People shine brightest

You Too, Enter the World of Calligraphy

Shourin Iwasaki is a calligrapher who continues to pursue new expression with contemporary sensibility while studying traditional calligraphic techniques.
His works, where the weight of classical tradition merges with the breath of modernity, stir the hearts of viewers.

The “totally bombed” introduced today is merely a glimpse into Shourin’s artistic world.
On his Instagram, he posts daily creative processes, completed works, and thoughts about calligraphy.

The stories embedded in each character.
The drama of the moment when brush runs across paper.
The serene world woven by ink and empty space.

There, you may find something important that you had almost forgotten in your busy daily life.

Calligraphy is not merely a technique for writing beautiful characters.
It is an art that confronts the human spirit and embodies aesthetic consciousness inherited across time.
Why not experience that profound world through the works of Shourin Iwasaki?

A single work of calligraphy might change your day.
A single line might light a fire in your heart.

We await you in a world fragrant with ink.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！　／

Bringing Art into Daily Life—An Encounter with Calligraphy

Would you like to welcome such calligraphy works into your everyday space?

Shourin Iwasaki has recently opened an online shop on STORES.
You can now easily view and purchase various calligraphy works.

Calligraphy works are more than just characters.
They breathe life into a space and quietly yet certainly enrich the hearts of those who live there.
Imagine starting your day by viewing these characters each morning.
Calming your mind with them each evening.
Picture a life where art naturally blends into your daily routine.

In the online shop, detailed images of each work are presented along with the thoughts embedded in every piece.
If any work speaks to you, please visit STORES (https://shourin-iwasaki.stores.jp/).

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／