Bold black ink surging from the brush tip.
The two characters for “無頼” (vagabond) rendered with powerful yet flowing curves.
When you stand before this work, what do you feel?
＼ 岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！ ／
The Meaning of “Vagabond”
無頼 (burai) — this word carries an air of freedom unbound by convention and a spirit of defiance.
Look it up in a dictionary and you’ll find definitions like “having nothing to rely on” or “scoundrel,” but beneath these words lies a much deeper philosophy.
To live relying on no one, guided only by one’s own convictions.
To break free from the chains of public opinion and so-called common sense, and simply walk one’s own path.
These two characters embody such a dignified way of life.
Osamu Dazai called himself part of the “burai-ha” (vagabond school), and Ango Sakaguchi questioned established morality in his “Discourse on Decadence.”
The word they loved carries the strength to resist the times and persist in being oneself.
There’s also the term “無頼漢” (buraikan – vagabond).
It may sound negative at first, but seen from another angle, it means “one who bows to no one.”
A soul that abhors constraints and loves freedom.
That is the essence of the vagabond spirit.
The Spirit of Defiance in Ink
Look at this work “Vagabond” by calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki, where his brush has danced across the paper.
The upper character “無” (mu) has sharp, sweeping strokes, like a sword being brought down with force.
The lower character “頼” (rai) conceals graceful flow within its strength.
The contrast woven by these two characters seems to mirror the vagabond way of life itself.
The gradations of ink, the dry brush marks, the bleeding edges — all of these are not calculated, but fixed on paper as the outpouring of the artist’s soul.
In the momentary movement of the brush, there is no hesitation.
Only a pure thirst for expression.
Imagine hanging this work in your room.
When you wake in the morning and see these characters, you might feel the determination to “live true to myself today.”
When you return home exhausted at night, these powerful ink traces might whisper, “You’re not living to meet someone else’s expectations.”
Calligraphy as Art, as a Way of Life
Calligraphy is not merely the technique of writing beautiful characters.
It is an expressive art where the artist’s very way of life seeps through.
Shourin Iwasaki’s works embody both respect for tradition and contemporary sensibility.
While studying the classics, he doesn’t let himself be bound by them, pursuing his own expression instead.
This truly “vagabond” attitude dwells in each and every piece.
On Instagram, he shares various works daily beyond just “Vagabond” — powerful regular script, flowing cursive script, and sometimes even avant-garde expressions.
Please witness the diverse appeal of calligraphy with your own eyes.
Follow, and the beauty of calligraphy and hints for living will arrive in your daily life.
＼ 岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！ ／
Bring the Vagabond Aesthetic into Your Space
And if this “Vagabond” work resonates with your heart, please take a look at the online shop.
Shourin Iwasaki has opened an online shop for his calligraphy works on STORES.
Works written on various themes, including “Vagabond,” await their meeting with new owners.
To welcome a piece of calligraphy into your room, into your workspace — this may not be simply interior decoration, but choosing a way of life.
Receive from these ink traces the courage to live as a vagabond.
＼ 岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！ ／
コメント