Shodo encompasses both artistic expression and a honed skill set. Consequently, it is instructed through a designated curriculum, with instructors conducting regular assessments to offer constructive feedback and guidance throughout the students’ progression.
While Gohitsu Shodo Kai is an independent school, it adheres to Japanese schools’ assessment and promotion standards, ensuring a consistent and recognized grading system for our students.
There are numerous Shodo organizations in Japan. While operating individually, they all follow the same system. If you study under a teacher certified through an organization, they would probably hold the rank of Shihan (Master Instructor). The title Shihan means someone is certified to teach Shodo of any level. This title is essential in Japan because a teaching license is required to teach Shodo in elementary schools. It’s a reasonably complicated system, and it can take quite a while to achieve a high rank and become a certified teacher or Shihan.
It’s important to note that there is no national standardized test for any Shodo rank or Shihan certification. Each organization develops its own set of standards, requirements, and tests.
The ranking system in Shodo is similar to most Japanese martial arts. Lower levels are known as “kyū (級)” ranks and start from 10th and progress until you reach 1st kyū. After 1st kyū, students move to “dan (段)” ranks, the equivalent of black belts in martial arts, and progress from 1st to 8th. As with any organization, ranks and affiliations are subject to membership and testing fees. Students who wish to become instructors within their school can take an instructor certification exam and receive the title of Shihan upon earning 4th dan. Large Shodo organizations have many instructors teaching multiple classes in different locations.
Interestingly, this ranking system is relatively new in Japan. Many martial and cultural disciplines adopted it shortly after World War 2. For centuries before the war, martial and cultural arts were passed down from teacher to student without rank or examination. Eventually, the teacher named the student a successor with a certificate called “menkyo kaiden” or a license of total transmission. Yamaoka Tesshu, the famous calligrapher and swordsman of the early Meiji period, which we study prominently at Gohitsu Shodo Kai, was the last Headmaster of the Jubokudo School of Calligraphy. The story goes that Tesshu was a student of Iwasa Ittei, the 51st Headmaster of the Jubokudo School of Calligraphy. Iwasa gave Tesshu a “certificate of mastery” at 15. However, Iwasa did not name him a successor because he was so young. When Iwasa passed away, Tesshu took the mantle of Headmaster of the school because no other worthy claimant appeared. Unfortunately, Tesshu himself died without a successor; hence, he was the last Headmaster of the Jubokudo School of Calligraphy.
While the kanji kyū is associated with the word “rank” in many martial and cultural arts schools, at Gohitsu Shodo Kai, we use the word “grade.” Rank means a position within the hierarchy of an organization. Naturally, this hierarchical structure can create competition and animosity among members and students. Since Gohitsu Shodo Kai aims to build a community of people looking to train in Shodo to discover their inner spirit, enhance their senses, and find happiness, having a hierarchy among students goes against this mission. Therefore, we refer to kyū as grades or levels and use it to point to students’ location in their journey. How fast or far you go in your journey is up to you, and that does not affect anyone else’s journey. These grades should provide a map and motivate you to continue training diligently.
Our curriculum for each level is as follows:
Introductory – 新級 SHINKYŪ (New level) or 10th kyū
Beginner – 10th – 5th kyū
Intermediate – 4th – 1st kyū
Advanced – 1st Dan and above
Our hope is for, one day, some of Gohitsu Shodo Kai students to become teachers themselves, thus extending the teachings and mission of our school.
It is important to note that ranks and certifications don’t guarantee someone’s calligraphy is good or make them a competent teacher. Shodo is a personal practice, a form of self-expression, a vehicle to find your true self. It transcends mere technique acquisition and exam success. The true measure of your skills and capabilities lies not in certificates but in the strokes of your brush on paper.