‘Emptiness’ and ‘Nothingness’ as Key Elements to Conveying and Understanding Meaning in Japanese Calligraphy

The article analyses one of Japanese calligraphy’s (shodō 書道) particularities: the notion “emptiness”, “nothingness”. This concept can be observed in different layers art: from white paper, to movement brush after it has been lifted paper interpretative process. In this way, there are instances “emptiness” during several stages creation and understanding a calligraphic work. order illustrate this, our will analyse two shodō 書道 works, pinpointing use or “nothingness”, effect they create for work as whole. We conclude that grasp transcendent meaning, must take into account all elements present within work, including “emptiness”.