Calligraphy on Paulownia wood – Shin 「信」("sincerity")

Shin, sincerity, is one of the five confucian virtues that guide individuals on the Way (benevolence, righteousness, knowledge, sincerity, and propriety). Those virtues were subsequently used as a foundation in Japan for the so-called Seven (or sometimes eight, depending on the period) Virtues of the Samurai.

However, famous warlord Date Masamune stated that those virtues should not be exaggerated and that balance was essential:

Too much benevolence turns into weakness,
Too much righteousness turns into stubbornness,
Too much knowledge turns into deception,
Too much sincerity turns into naivety,
Too much propriety turns into flattery.

About kiri (paulownia)

Kiri, known in the West as paulownia, or sometimes princess tree, is a lightweight wood that has a distinctive silky surface. It offers a beautiful contrast with black ink.

Kiri were once sacred trees in China, because people believed that phoenixes only perched on their branches. Due to these revered origins, the Japanese imperial family adopted the kiri flower as one of its emblems towards the end of the first millennium.

In Japan, it was also customary to plant a paulownia when a girl was born. Later, when the daughter married, the tree would be cut down and transformed into a dresser for her kimonos.

Nowadays, kiri wood is often used to craft furnitures, music instruments or gift box.

Hanging system

This calligraphy features a set of metallic hooks and wire for hanging. These can be easily removed and replaced with your own system or frame if you wish to do so.