Zen Calligraphy “Clear Sky Beyond the Clouds” — Ichifū (一風), c. 1850–1900

This rare and meditative piece of Japanese calligraphy presents a time-honored Zen phrase:

雲外之青天 — “A clear sky beyond the clouds”
(Ungai no Seiten) — a metaphor for awakening, for the clarity that lies beyond confusion and desire.

Rendered in fluid, semi-cursive ink strokes, this expression arises from centuries of monastic tradition. It reminds us that even when the sky is dark with worry, there is still open blue above — just beyond the clouds.

🧘‍♂️ This work was most likely created by a Zen monk using the name Ichifū (一風) — "One Wind" — an evocative art-name (gō) suggesting impermanence, flow, and silent force. While the full identity of Ichifū is unknown, their brush reveals deep spiritual training. This piece is not decorative calligraphy — it is bokuseki (墨跡): a direct trace of enlightened mind.

The two red seals authenticate the work:

a square name seal 一風, hand-carved with visible irregularities typical of late Edo Zen monks;

and a vertical rakkan seal 一風書, translating to “Written by Ichifū” — a mark often reserved for genuine expressions of inner insight.

These types of seals — with asymmetry, natural stone cuts, and archaic forms — were commonly used by monks in the Rinzai and Obaku schools of the late Edo to early Meiji periods (c. 1850–1890), when calligraphy served as direct teaching rather than ornamentation.

The phrase Ungai no Seiten appears frequently in Zen poetry, haiku, and inscriptions on temple scrolls, often linked to moments of transition, solitude, or realization. Examples can be found in Kyoto Zen temples, and in the bokuseki collections of Ryūkoku University and the Kyoto National Museum.

📜 The board shows foxing and oxidation consistent with 19th-century handmade paper. The absence of a decorative gold border, common in modern shikishi, further supports the early date. This was likely created not for sale or show, but for a student, a ritual offering, or a moment of personal truth.

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📐 Size: approx. 24×27 cm
🖋️ Technique: hand-brushed sumi ink on aged traditional paperboard
📦 Secure shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art — CloudyYokomido)

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