[sljfaq] Japanese lettering page added

I've launched a new page on different styles of lettering used in Japanese.

The provisional web address is

http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/calligraphy.html

although the name "calligraphy" is not particularly good.

The page is still a work in progress although I think the contents are already useful.

For suggestions/additions/corrections please follow up in the newsgroup or send email via the web page or to the address on this message.

I hope you had a nice "umi no hi".

Ben.

The following is a text version of the file saved with lynx. I haven't edited this carefully.

======================================================

  Top: Introduction and Contents >> 4. The Japanese writing system >>
  4.3. Other questions on writing systems
    * Previous: 4.3.8. Can Japanese be written right to left?

         4.3.9. What are the different styles of Japanese lettering?

  In the same way that there are various ways of writing English, both
  in handwriting and in type, Japanese has many different ways of being
  written.

  There are three main styles of writing Chinese characters,
   1.
   2.
   3.

  TO DO #33: priority: medium: Add a note about pen/brush/etc. written
  styles, from that web page I copied.
  Here are some of the main ways.

                   Chinese letter styles used in Japan

 ※ tenshotai (篆書体・てん書体)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/tenshotai.jpg This style is
used in seals. There are two variations, daitenshotai (大篆書体) Google
Images: "大篆書体", created in the Zhou (Japanese shuu, 周) era, and
shoutenshotai (小篆書体) Google Images: "小篆書体", created in the (Japanese
Shin, 秦) era.

 Google Images: "篆書体" Google Images: "てん書体"
 ※ reisho (隷書体)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/reishotai.jpg This style is
 square and simple in form. It is a simplified version of shoutenshotai.

 Google Images: "隷書体"
 ※ koreishotai (古隷書体)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/koreishotai.jpg

 Google Images: "古隷書体"
 ※ Minchoutai (明朝体)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/minchoutai.jpg Minchou means
"Ming dynasty". This type style is characterized by thick vertical and thin
horizontal lines. This style is called soutai 宋体 in China.

 Google Images: "明朝体"
 ※ Kaishotai (楷書体)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/kaishotai.jpg The most
 traditional square style of characters, with horizontal lines slanting
 upwards going from left to right.

 Google Images: "楷書体"
 ※ Souchoutai (宋朝体) Google Images: "宋朝体"

 This style, originally created for use in woodblock printing, closely
 resembles the kaisho style.

                          Japanese letter styles

 The following lettering styles were created in Japan:
 ※ Kointai (古印体)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/kointai.jpg This style is used
in rakkan (落款) or seals.

 Google Images: "古印体"
 ※ Gyoushotai (行書体)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/gyoushotai.jpg A "cursive",
 flowing style of writing using a brush.

 Google Images: "行書体"
 ※ Shingyoushotai (新行書体)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/shingyoushotai.jpg This is a
more modern version of the gyoushotai font.
※ Sousho (草書)

The so-called "grass style", this is an even more flowing, cursive style than
gyoushotai. This style was the basis for the origin of hiragana. See

 Google Images: "草書"

                            Edomoji (江戸文字)

This general term covers many Japanese type styles which were invented for
various reasons in the Edo period. For example,

 ※ Kanteiryuu (勘亭流)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/kanteiryuu.jpg

 Google Images: "勘亭流"
 ※ Yosemoji (寄席文字)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/yosemoji.jpg This name
 literally means a font to draw in customers.

 Google Images: "寄席文字"
 ※ Kagomoji (篭文字)

 This name literally means "cage letters".

 Google Images: "篭文字"
 ※ Higemoji (髭文字)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/higemoji.jpg These characters
have little "whiskers" on them.

 Google Images: "髭文字"
 ※ Sumou moji (相撲文字)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/sumoumoji.jpg This style is
 the one used for sumo wrestling posters.

 Google Images: "相撲文字"
 ※ Chouchin moji (提灯文字)

These characters are the ones used on chouchin, hanging paper lanterns, such
as the ones you might see outside a yakitori stand in Japan.
Google Images: "提灯文字" ※ Kakuji (角字)

 This very heavy, rectangular style is used for making seals.
 Google Images: "角字"

Modern Japanese font styles

 ※ Goshikkutai (ゴシック体)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/goshikku.jpg Image:
 http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/ksgoshikkutai.jpg This style is
 similar to sans-serif type in English. The name goshikku is derived from
 English "gothic", but it has very little in common with "gothic" type in
 English. In the past, the word "gothic" was used to describe sans-serif
 typefaces. This meaning, "sans serif", has been preserved in the Japanese
 usage.
 Google Images: "ゴシック体" ※ Marugoshikkutai (丸ゴシック体)

A development of the goshikku typeface with rounded corners (Japanese maru
(丸) means "round") on the kanji. This typeface is used on road signs. Google
Images: "丸ゴシック体"
※ Kyoukashotai (教科書体)

This style was created in the Meiji era for use in primary school textbooks.
It resembles hand-written characters. It is a variant of the kaisho style
made easier to read. It is often used in primary school textbooks. This style
is also used in the "Genki" textbook series for learning Japanese.

 Google Images: "教科書体"
 ※ POPshotai (ポップ書体)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/popmoji.jpg This lively style
of characters is often used for shop signs.

 Google Images: "ポップ書体"
 ※ Shoujomoji (少女文字)

Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/shoujomoji.jpg Google Images:
"少女文字"
Shoujomoji literally means "young girl letters", and the style is a copy of a
feminine style of writing. ※ Mingeimoji (民芸文字)

 Image: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq//kanji-fonts/mingeimoji.jpg

 Google Images: "民芸文字"

Unclassified font styles

 The following font styles have been found but not classified yet.

 TO DO #34: priority: low: Classify these fonts

  Kinbuntai (金文体)
         Google Images: "金文体"

  Sekihitai (石碑体)
         Google Images: "石碑体"

  仙草
         Google Images: "仙草"

  羽衣
         Google Images: "羽衣"

  恋文
         Google Images: "恋文"

 Useful web pages about fonts

  Glossary of Terms used in Font Information Processing
         I found this very helpful in making the above list of lettering
         styles.

  The Wikipedia page on Japanese Calligraphy
         contains more information on brush styles.
   ________________________________________________________________________

 Copyright (c) 1994-2005 Ben Kasmin Bullock

 Questions? Corrections? Comments? Contact: webpages@xxxxxxxxxx


.

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