A Prayer for the “Present” Imbued in Ink: Calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki Depicts “Past, Present, Future”

A single piece of calligraphy speaks to us about time itself.

Three words leap across the paper with powerful brushwork—”Past,” “Present,” “Future.”
Among them, the character for “Present,” positioned prominently and boldly in the center, captures the viewer’s heart and won’t let go.

This is one of the works created in the daily practice of calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki.
The gradations of ink, the force of the brush, the beauty of negative space—all of it poses a question to us:

“How are you living this very moment, right now?”

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／

Not the Past, Not the Future… “Now” is the Protagonist of Life

In Buddhism, there is a saying: “The past mind is unobtainable, the present mind is unobtainable, the future mind is unobtainable.”
We cannot hold onto the past, the future, or even the present.
That is precisely why this single moment becomes irreplaceable.

Shourin Iwasaki’s work breathes with such philosophy.
The past cannot be changed, and the future remains uncertain.
However, the present—this “now”—is the only thing within our grasp.
He expresses this truth with a single brush.

The character for “Present,” positioned prominently in the center, pulses with life force as powerfully as a heartbeat.
The characters for “Past” and “Future,” modestly placed on either side, nestle close like two wings supporting the present.
This is not mere design, but an arrangement that reflects the very structure of life itself.

Each Accumulated Moment Creates the Future

In Zen, there is a term “nikon” (而今), meaning precisely now, this very moment.
In the tea ceremony, the phrase “ichi-go ichi-e” (one time, one meeting) is treasured, which also teaches us to cherish this unrepeatable moment.

What Shourin Iwasaki has imbued in this work is the wisdom of such Eastern philosophy.
Not being trapped by regrets of the past, not having one’s heart stolen by anxieties about the future, but facing this present moment with one’s entire being.
It’s a simple yet profound message that the future we truly desire awaits at the end of such accumulated moments.

The instant when ink is absorbed into paper.
The split second when the brush runs and a line is born.
The art of calligraphy is itself a confrontation with the “present.”
The calligrapher cannot correct a past stroke, cannot control a future stroke.
They can only stake everything on the brushwork of this moment, right now.

The Truth of Life That Calligraphy Teaches Us

Gazing at this work, we suddenly realize.
How much time do we spend each day looking back at the past and worrying about the future?

Smartphone in hand, we reflect on yesterday and fret about tomorrow.
While doing so, this present moment spills away like sand.

The character for “Present” drawn by Shourin Iwasaki’s brush is a gentle warning bell to us.
And at the same time, it is also a powerful cheer.

Let us live this moment preciously.
Because that accumulation will surely lead to a wonderful future.

Reconsidering Time Along with the Fragrance of Ink

Calligraphy works possess an allure that photographs cannot fully convey.
The fragrance of ink, the texture of Japanese paper, the flow of air created by the brush’s momentum—all of these unite to complete the work.

Shourin Iwasaki continues to create such works daily.
On his Instagram, he shares the creative process, new works, and the thoughts imbued in his calligraphy.
Each piece of calligraphy offers us who live in the modern age an opportunity to pause and reconsider the “now.”

Rather than surrendering to the flow of time, we face time and engage in dialogue with it.
Why not spend such enriching time with his calligraphy?

The miracle of the present woven by ink and brush.
Please witness that moment with your own eyes.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！　／

Online Shop Now Open

Furthermore, we are pleased to announce the opening of an online shop on STORES where you can acquire Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy works.

We offer a variety of calligraphy works, from powerful pieces like “Recapture” to gentle words that nestle close to daily life.
Whether displayed in your home or given as a gift to someone special, these works will surely become memorable pieces.

Words have power.
And when those words are expressed through calligraphy, they transcend mere characters to become living energy.

Why not begin your journey to “recapture” what you’ve been losing, together with Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy works?

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／