ryuurui's art studio
  • home
  • portfolio
  • Blender bros
  • store
    • 3D models and assets
    • artwork & prints
    • books
  • blog
  • about
  • contact

Learn Japanese Hiragana - a comprehensive and complete textbook for Japanese language students and enthusiasts, with handwritten examples

9/24/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Officially published as of today! Learn Japanese Hiragana is one of three books on the subject of Japanese language and etymology  that I have been working on for some time now. Although Learn Japanese Hiragana and Learn Japanese Katakana  are separate and stand alone books, so it is possible to buy them as stand alone volumes.

The most significant thing that distinguishes my books from any other hiragana and katakana textbooks out there, is that all and every single syllabary or a character was handwritten the way it should be. There is a huge discrepancy between a handwritten Japanese and computer fonts, and this subject is hugely neglected. When I started to study Japanese language 14 years ago, I always wished I had a book with handwritten examples of kanji, hiragana or katakana.

But there is more. Not only each book has handwritten examples of hiragana and katakana, but also the kanji from which each of kana syllabaries evolved. Further, since hiragana evolved from kanji in cursive-script form, I included three different handwritten calligraphy scripts for each kanji to show a clear evolution from the standard script through semi-cursive to cursive script. In case of katakana I did the same thing with kanji radicals that each katakana evolved from.

I have provided a detailed explanation of the origins of sounds of modern katakana and added a phonetic guidance based on pronunciation found in the online Oxford dictionary of English language. You should be able to replicate the proper sound of each katakana syllabary wit ease.

In addition, I discuss the history of evolution of hiragana and katakana on a background of the history of Japanese calligraphy. I have included hand written stroke order charts of each syllabogram, with arrows pointing towards the correct direction of writing. All handwritten examples are based on traditional or historical Japanese calligraphy.

Last but not least, I have included space for exercises, where you can practice your writing modelling yourself on the examples I have provided.

Learn Japanese Katakana and Learn Japanese Hiragana is now available on my store on lulu.com, but in few weeks it will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. but if I receive enough requests I consider publishing it also in electronic form for Kindle, Nook, iBooks.

Visit my page on Lulu bookstore to see preview of the book. 

buy
look inside
Picture
Comments

Learn Japanese Katakana - a comprehensive and complete textbook for Japanese language students and enthusiasts, with handwritten examples

9/23/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Officially published as of today! Learn Japanese Katakana is one of three books on the subject of Japanese language and etymology  that I have been working on for some time now. Although Learn Japanese Katakana and Learn Japanese Hiragana are separate and stand alone books, so it is possible to buy them as stand alone volumes.

The most significant thing that distinguishes my books from any other hiragana and katakana textbooks out there, is that all and every single syllabary or a character was handwritten the way it should be. There is a huge discrepancy between a handwritten Japanese and computer fonts, and this subject is hugely neglected. When I started to study Japanese language 14 years ago, I always wished I had a book with handwritten examples of kanji, hiragana or katakana.

But there is more. Not only each book has handwritten examples of hiragana and katakana, but also the kanji from which each of kana syllabaries evolved. Further, since hiragana evolved from kanji in cursive-script form, I included three different handwritten calligraphy scripts for each kanji to show a clear evolution from the standard script through semi-cursive to cursive script. In case of katakana I did the same thing with kanji radicals that each katakana evolved from.

I have provided a detailed explanation of the origins of sounds of modern katakana and added a phonetic guidance based on pronunciation found in the online Oxford dictionary of English language. You should be able to replicate the proper sound of each katakana syllabary wit ease.

In addition, I discuss the history of evolution of hiragana and katakana on a background of the history of Japanese calligraphy. I have included hand written stroke order charts of each syllabogram, with arrows pointing towards the correct direction of writing. All handwritten examples are based on traditional or historical Japanese calligraphy.

Last but not least, I have included space for exercises, where you can practice your writing modelling yourself on the examples I have provided.

Learn Japanese Katakana and Learn Japanese Hiragana is now available on my store on lulu.com, but in few weeks it will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. but if I receive enough requests I consider publishing it also in electronic form for Kindle, Nook, iBooks.

Visit my page on Lulu bookstore to see preview of the book.


buy
look inside
Picture
Comments

Ryuurui's exercise books for Japanese hiragana and katakana

2/11/2014

Comments

 
click this to go to a a new articles with updates
Some of you probably know that I am working on several book projects. Today I decided to add one more, or actually two more. Last year I created a free tutorial on the origins of hiragana and katakana, but it is split into 96 separate articles, and all of the material is online. So, I decided to put together two small exercise books, one for hiragana and one for katakana.

Books will include additional information, such as the history of both kana syllabaries, and a short dictionary that will explain all the difficult terms, etc. Below is a sample page from the hiragana book. It is still just a draft, but I wanted to hear your opinions. Perhaps I could improve it. Those books are aimed at those who wish to learn how to write Japanese kana's. Every single Chinese character in those books is hand written by me, and each script is based on historical forms of a given kanji. The same goes to the kana syllabograms. Books will be in A4 format, available in hard form and as a pdf download.

Picture
Edit: here is an updated version of the same page, which I created after receiving valuable feedback from you guys. I really appreciate it!
Picture
Comments

Mixing Japanese kana and kanji in calligraphy art

7/29/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Unlike Chinese calligraphy, Japanese calligraphy utilises several different writing systems. Those are: kanji (漢字), katakana (片仮名), and hiragana (平仮名) the writing systems known to anyone who studies modern Japanese language, but also hentaigana (変体仮名), manyōgana (万葉仮名), and so on.

To understand the history of Japanese calligraphy, it is best if you read my article on the subject. However, for the sake of better understanding of this article, it is necessary to say a few more words in regards to those writing systems.

Japanese kanji evolved from Chinese characters. Since Japanese grammar is completely different from the Chinese one, there was a need for developing a writing system to be used for distinguishing prefixes, grammatical expressions, etc. Today, hiragana syllabary is used for dealing with grammatical issues, and katakana is mostly used for writing foreign names and as phonetic explanatory notes.

Historically speaking, various different types of Japanese calligraphy have evolved, depending on which writing system, or writing systems, are applied in a single calligraphy work. For instance, the calligraphy you see in the picture (above), is a typical kana majiri bun (仮名交じり文), which stands for: "a text that is a mixture of kana and kanji".

Another type would be chōwatai (調和体), which stands for "harmony of scripts". Such calligraphy can include both kana syllabaries and kanji, similarly to kana majiri bun, but the forms of characters or syllabopgrams are based on those found in classical literature. In this respect kana majiri bun is a modern form of chōwatai.

Last but not least, there is also kana script (かな), which refers to calligraphy written exclusively in hiragana and / or hentaigana.

Pictured calligraphy: 果てしない夏(の)愛 (everlasting summer love)

calligraphy theory menu
learn hiragana
learn katakana
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 48: syllabogram ン

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ン is derived from the simplified standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 爾 (you, though), i.e. 尓. If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ン follows the general stgructure of the top part of the Chinese character 尓, and it has the same stroke order.

previous: ヱ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ア
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 47: syllabogram ヱ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ヱ is derived from the simplified standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 惠 (blessing, grace), i.e. 恵. If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ヱ follows the general structure of the radical 田 (field), and it has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ヱ is different from the one of hiragana syllabogram ゑ, both syllabograms are based on the same Chinese character 恵. 

previous: ヲ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ン
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 46: syllabogram ヲ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ヲ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 乎 (question mark). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ヲ follows the general stgructure of the Chinese character 乎, but its stroke order differs slightly.

previous: ヰ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ヱ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 45: syllabogram ヰ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ヰ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 井 (a well). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ヰ follows the general stgructure of the Chinese character 井, and it has the same stroke order.

previous: ワ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ヲ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 44: syllabogram ワ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture













Japanese katakana syllabogram ワ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 和 (harmony). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ワ is similar to the one of the radical 口 (mouth, rutual vessel), and it has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ワ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram わ, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 和. 

previous: ロ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ヰ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 43: syllabogram ロ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Japanese katakana syllabogram ロ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 呂 (spine, backbone). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ロ is identical to the radical 口 (mouth, rutual vessel), and it has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ロ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram ろ, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 呂. 

previous: レ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ワ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 42: syllabogram レ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram レ is derived from the simplified standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 禮 (social customs, manners), i.e 礼. If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana レ follows the central structure of the character 礼, and it has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram レ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram れ both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 礼. 

previous: ル
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ロ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 41: syllabogram ル

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ル is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 流 (to flow). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ル follows the bottom part of the character 流, and has the same stroke order.

previous: リ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: レ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 40: syllabogram リ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Japanese katakana syllabogram リ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 利 (advantage, benefit). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana リ is identical to the one of the sword radical (刂), and it has the same stroke order. Katakana syllabogram リ and the hiragana syllabogram り have very similar appearance.   

previous: ラ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ル
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 39: syllabogram ラ

6/11/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ラ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 良 (good). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ラ follows the top-right structure of the character 良, and it has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ラ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram ら, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 良. 

previous: ヨ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: リ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 38: syllabogram ヨ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture









Japanese katakana syllabogram ヨ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 與 (participate in, give). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ヨ follows the right-hand side part of the radical 𦥑 (milestone, mortar), and it has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ヨ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram よ both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 與. 

previous: ユ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ラ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 37: syllabogram ユ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Japanese katakana syllabogram ユ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 由 (reason). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ユ follows the central structure of the character 由, but has a different stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ユ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram ゆ both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 由. 

previous: ヤ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ヨ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 36: syllabogram ヤ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ヤ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 也(to be). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana follows the central structure of the character 也, and it has the same stroke order  Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ヤ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram や both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 也.

previous: モ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ユ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 35: syllabogram モ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram モ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 毛(hair, fur). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana モ is identical to the bottom part of the Chinese character モ, and it follows the same stroke order  Although the shape of katakana syllabogram モ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram も, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 毛.

previous: メ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ヤ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 34: syllabogram メ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Japanese katakana syllabogram メ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 女 (woman). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana メ follows the shape of of a small part of the second half of the first stroke, and the last stroke of the Chinese charatcer 女. The stroke order of メ is different that the one of the kanji 女. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram メ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram め both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 女.

previous: ム
katakana menu
stroke order
next: モ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 33: syllabogram

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ム is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 矣 (sentence particle). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ム is identical to the one of the radical 厶 (I, myself). Also, note that the hand written shape of the kanji 矣 misses one stroke. Hand written characters offen differ from their printed font counterparts. 

previous: ミ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: メ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 32: syllabogram ミ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ミ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 三 (three). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ミ is identical to the one of kanji 三, and has the same stroke order. 

previous: マ
katakana menu
stgroke order
next: ム
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 31: syllabogramマ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram マ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 末 (top end, tip). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana マ follows the top part of the kanji 末. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram マ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram ま, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 末.

previous: ホ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ミ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 30: syllabogram ホ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram ホ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 保 (protect, guarantee). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ヒ is identical to the hand written shape of the radical 木 (tree), and follows the same stroke order  Although the shape of katakana syllabogram ホ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram ほ, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 保.

previous: ヘ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: マ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 29: syllabogram ヘ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture





Japanese katakana syllabogram ヘ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 部 (section, department). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that the shape of katakana ヘ follows the shape of the upper part of the radical 阝(right village radical). The stroke order of both is the same. and follows the same stroke order.  The shape of the Japanese katakana syllabogram ヘ is virtually identical to the shape of hiragana syllabogram へ.  Both syllabograms are also based on the same Japanese kanji 部.


previous: フ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ホ
Comments

Learn Japanese katakana, part 28: syllabogram フ

6/9/2013

Comments

 
Picture












Japanese katakana syllabogram フ is derived from the standard script (楷書) form of the Japanese kanji 不 (negative, un-, non-). If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that katakana フ follows the shape of the top part of the character 不 (first two strokes), and has the same stroke order. Although the shape of katakana syllabogram フ is different from the shape of hiragana syllabogram ふ, both syllabograms are based on the same Japanese kanji 不.

previous: ヒ
katakana menu
stroke order
next: ヘ
Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    3D Art
    3D Modeling
    Announcements
    Architcture Photography
    Beauty Photo Shoot
    Black And White Photography
    Body Art
    Books
    Boudoir
    Calligraphy And Photography
    Calligraphy Art
    Calligraphy Brush
    Calligraphy Ink
    Calligraphy Theory
    Calligraphy Tools
    Calligraphy Works
    Cityscapes
    Clerical Script Tutorials
    Composite Photography
    Concept Art
    Creative Photography
    Cursive Script Tutorials
    Digital Art
    Exhibitions
    Famous Quotes
    Fantasy Art
    Fine Art
    Great Masters
    HDR Photography
    History
    Ink Painting
    Ink Treasures
    Japanese Hiragana
    Japanese Hiragana
    Japanese Katakana
    Japan In Photography
    Japan In Photography
    Kanji
    Learning
    Linguistics & Etymology
    Martial Arts
    Masterpieces
    Model Photography
    Modern Calligraphy
    Night Photography
    Nude Photography
    Photo Editing Techniques
    Photography
    Photography Tutorials
    Photo Retouching
    Photoshop Manipulation
    Photoshop Tutorials
    Poetry
    Portrait Photography
    Portraiture
    Publications
    Science Fiction Art
    Sci Fi
    Semi Cursive Script Tutorials
    Semi-cursive Script Tutorials
    Small Seal Script Tutorials
    Speed Art Videos
    Standard Script Tutorials
    Store
    Street Photograpghy
    Tattoo
    Time Lapse
    Tokyo 3017
    Urban Photography
    Zbrush Art
    Zen

    Author

    Ponte Ryuurui (品天龍涙)

    Archives

    August 2020
    February 2020
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

                                                           © Ponte Ryuurui 2012 - 2020
  • home
  • portfolio
  • Blender bros
  • store
    • 3D models and assets
    • artwork & prints
    • books
  • blog
  • about
  • contact