Daitoku-ji Temple Japanese Calligraphy “Endless Joy” – Framed Ink on Paper, Showa Heisei

“Endless Joy” — Choraku Banzai

Japanese calligraphy from Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto, dating to the Showa–Heisei period. Ink on paper, presented in a Japanese frame. The work bears a handwritten signature and a red square seal.

The four large characters form the ancient auspicious expression Choraku Banzai, associated with lasting joy, longevity and good fortune.

Its meaning can be rendered in several ways:

Literal: “Long lasting joy for ten thousand years.”

In sense: “May joy continue without end.”

As a title: “Endless Joy” or “Eternal Joy.”

An explanatory Japanese label preserved on the reverse gives essentially the same meaning: joyful things continuing for a long time, without limit. “Endless Joy” is therefore used here as the English title.

The work is distinguished by its archaizing, strongly geometric calligraphy. The forms are related to ancient seal script and the wadang inscription tradition — auspicious texts placed on the circular ends of architectural roof tiles.

The phrase Choraku Banzai has ancient Chinese origins and is known from inscribed roof tile ends of the Han period. The compact circular surface encouraged highly geometric, almost emblematic character forms. In this work, that ancient epigraphic tradition is reinterpreted through Japanese calligraphy.

Period: Showa–Heisei
Technique: Ink on paper
Signature: Present
Seal: Red square seal
Provenance: Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto
Calligraphy size: 15 × 11 cm
Frame size: 26.5 × 32.5 cm
Condition: Very good vintage condition.

Please examine the photographs carefully. The photographs form part of the condition description.

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