Beginning with the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, nearly all of the great Japanese martial arts masters left a legacy of calligraphy and painting. In this art, rooted in the tradition of Zenga and Zensho (meditative painting and calligraphy), the brushstrokes are considered to be alive, conveying a master’s teaching directly and concisely. When the artwork is displayed in a dojo or more intimately in one’s home, the master is experienced as a living presence. This stunning collection of spiritual calligraphy presents a concise history of this tradition, with works from Miyamoto Musashi, Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, Saigo Takamori, Otagaki Rengetsu, Yamaoka Tesshu, Kano Jigoro, Ueshiba Morihei, and many others. Aikido master and Zen art expert John Stevens provides a fascinating introduction to the tradition, illuminating commentary on each piece, and biographical details on each of the warrior artists.