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GLOSSARY
Japanese calligraphic art
Unlike Western calligraphy, which emphasizes technique, Japanese calligraphy is rooted in expression. In fact, it could be called expressionistic art. It is practiced by many Japanese people, particularly the wayo style, which is somewhat feminine in character. As discussed in S-23-1-4 (this section) Japanese calligraphy has been subject to several streams of development and it is strongly linked with Buddhism. The most prized surviving examples of early calligraphy were not necessarily created as works of art; in many cases they are merely the handwriting of persons of achievement who, by virtue of their training and sensitivity; produced masterful calligraphy.