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The worldview of the work
天地無音而光在 (Ten-chi-muon-ni-shite-hikari-ari)
– Heaven and Earth Are Silent, Yet Light Remains –
Heaven and earth do not speak.
No sound is born, yet within that silence, light quietly breathes.
This work, Heaven and Earth Are Silent, Yet Light Remains, expresses the truth of light that dwells in the threshold between silence and existence—
a presence that lingers between being and nothingness, like the faint pulse of life itself.
The gold-leaf canvas functions not as ornamentation, but as a mirror that reflects the stillness of the universe.
Light is always there, though unseen.
It appears only within the heart of one who listens inwardly—like prayer, like breath.
The characters written in Sumi ink arise from the artist’s spirit and wish within the philosophy of Hisseki-jutsu—
the art of channeling energy and fortune through the act of writing.
It is not a craft of beauty alone, but a ritual of prayer for the future.
What flows through the brush is not technique, but the rhythm of the heart and the prayer of life itself.
This piece, too, was written in a single breath within silence.
In the instant the brush touched the surface, the boundary between the self and the world dissolved,
and the silence of heaven and earth guided the movement of the hand.
At that moment, ink ceased to be merely black—it became the shadow that reflects light.
The field of gold symbolizes the infinite sky.
To layer ink upon it is an act of devotion: to hear sound within silence,
to discover presence within nothingness.
Each stroke appears strong, yet carries profound stillness within.
Light is born from silence, and silence embraces the light.
They merge into one point where all dualities—sound and light, time and space, life and death—dissolve into harmony.
The phrase “天地無音而光在” reveals the certainty of existence that transcends human perception.
Even when heaven and earth fall silent, the world continues to shine.
It is a hope beyond words, a quiet prayer,
and an expression of gratitude for the simple act of being alive.
The gold represents eternity; the black ink embodies the moment.
Their coexistence on a single plane awakens within the viewer a sense of “light within stillness.”
It is not a light that radiates outward,
but one that glows softly within the depths of the soul.
This inner light illuminates the silence of heaven and earth,
guiding the human spirit back toward the very center of life itself.
Behind the Scenes
Making Story – The Process Behind “Heaven and Earth Are Silent, Yet Light Remains”
This work was created on a wooden canvas, layered first with a traditional base coating to prepare the surface for gold.
Each sheet of gold leaf was carefully applied using nikawa—a natural animal glue that has been used in Japanese painting for centuries.
Gold leaf is delicate; it responds to even the smallest breath or vibration.
The process demands stillness, patience, and a steady heart.
Once the surface was covered, I spent time in silence, observing how the light settled across the field of gold.
Only after the gold accepted its stillness did I begin to prepare the ink.
To ensure that the Sumi ink would adhere without repelling on the gilded surface, I mixed it with a small amount of acrylic medium, transforming it into waterproof ink that could flow yet remain stable.
Writing upon gold is never simple.
The brush glides differently; the ink behaves unpredictably.
Every stroke requires balance between tension and release, control and surrender.
If the brush is too strong, the gold tears; if too light, the line loses its breath.
It is in that narrow space—the fragile “interval between control and chaos”—that the living line emerges.
Through this process, the act of writing becomes meditation.
Each layer—wood, base, glue, gold, and ink—reflects not only material skill, but the dialogue between earth, hand, and spirit.
When the final stroke dried, the gold seemed to breathe again, as if silence itself had been etched into light.
Kanji meaning
The Meaning of Each Character in 「天地無音而光在」
1. 天 (Ten) — Heaven
Meaning: Sky, the higher realm, the unseen origin of existence.
Symbolism:
“Heaven” represents the spiritual dimension—the vast, invisible order that transcends human understanding.
It is the beginning of all things, the source toward which prayers ascend.
→ The unseen order above all.
2. 地 (Chi) — Earth
Meaning: The ground, the tangible world, the foundation of life.
Symbolism:
“Earth” signifies the physical realm, the place where life takes form and time unfolds.
It stands in harmony with Heaven, completing the balance between spirit and matter.
→ The tangible realm that receives and reflects the light.
3. 無 (Mu) — Nothingness
Meaning: Emptiness, void, the unmanifest.
Symbolism:
“Mu” embodies the Buddhist concept of kū—emptiness that is not absence, but potential.
It is the silent space from which all forms arise and to which they return.
→ The fertile void from which all existence is born.
4. 音 (On) — Sound
Meaning: Sound, vibration, resonance, the rhythm of life.
Symbolism:
“Sound” represents movement, expression, the heartbeat of being.
When combined with “Mu” (nothingness), 無音 (muon)—“soundlessness”—reveals silence beyond vibration,
a stillness deeper than any quietude.
→ Silence beyond sound, where existence breathes unseen.
5. 而 (Ji / Ni shite) — And / Yet
Meaning: A conjunction meaning “and,” “yet,” or “but also.”
Symbolism:
“而” acts as the bridge between opposites—the Tao that connects Heaven and Earth,
Nothingness and Light, Silence and Sound.
It represents transition, flow, and harmony.
→ The bridge that unites opposites.
6. 光 (Kō) — Light
Meaning: Light, radiance, enlightenment, vitality.
Symbolism:
“Light” is the manifestation of truth and spirit.
It does not blaze outward but glows inward—an illumination that exists within silence itself.
→ The inner radiance that lives within stillness.
7. 在 (Zai) — To Be / Existence
Meaning: To exist, to dwell, to be present.
Symbolism:
“Zai” affirms the quiet truth of being.
Even when Heaven and Earth fall silent, Light still is.
It is the proof of life within the void, the presence that cannot be extinguished.
→ The affirmation of existence within the void.
More Information
| table of contents | specification |
|---|---|
| The basis of the work | Wood Campus |
| Material | wood, gold leaf |
| Size | F6 12.5in(318mm) × 16.1in(410mm)×0.75in(19mm) |
| Materials used | Sumi ink, medium |
| Finishing the work | The wooden canvas is primed with gesso, gold leaf is applied with nikawa glue, and the painting is done with a mixture of ink and a medium, and the surface is then varnished for protection. |
| Regarding domestic and international shipping | ・International shipping available: Ships via FedEx if no designated shipping company is specified. ・Domestic shipping in Japan: Ships via Yamato Transport if no designated shipping company is specified. |
| Packaging at time of shipment | We can also accommodate requests for packaging such as simple packaging and heavy-duty packaging, so please contact us for details. |
| Shipping | Decisions will be made in consultation with the buyer regarding whether to use transportation suitable for art works, whether to take out insurance, etc. |
| Compensation for works | The artwork will be delivered in the same condition as when it was sold. If you would like to purchase art insurance, we are happy to discuss this. |
| Payment Method | The payment amount is the artwork price plus shipping. Payment can be made by credit card. |
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