Ensō with bamboo by Deiryu Kutsu
Ensō is one of the deepest symbols in Japanese calligraphy; is related to the Zen philosophy y means circle, but it is much more than that.
It is usually done on silk or paper freehand and single stroke. It is very difficult to draw a perfect circle in this way, and therein lies part of its deep symbolism.
Ensō symbolism
Ensō by Shundo Aoyama Roshi
The artist leaves his mind free, empty, totally concentrated. It reminds me of the depth of concentration between two samurai faced in a duel. That immobility that could last for minutes before executing an accurate movement (often only one) with the katana.
How long does the artist take between the moment he concentrates before the void and draws the circle? Minutes? Seconds? One thing is certain: whatever, once traced, the drawing is irreversible.
The ensō symbolizes elegance (minimalist, like almost all Japanese art), strength and the universe. When it's closed, just like everything Circle, I symbolize the cyclical, the eternity, the eternal movement.
The difference is that the artist touches at a point at the beginning but does not lift the brush just at the same point at the end, for this reason the ensō also symbolizes the passage from life to death, the beginning and the end. In addition, the interior alludes vacuum, whose understanding is essential to achieve enlightenment.
The other way to draw it is by leaving it open wanting to reflect that nothing is hermetic but is part of a whole; it also signifies the importance of the asymmetric versus the perfection sought.
Ensō tattoo
There are many people who are beginning to get this symbol tattooed. They take the illustration to the tattoo artist who replicates it, so it is a very complicated tattoo to make, although the result can be interesting.
I personally think that this tattoo would reflect the opposite of what the original ensō wanted to convey. Although of course, it all depends on perspective. What is your opinion?
More information - A tattooed circle: eternity on your skin
Sources - Wikipedia
Photos - Shundo Aoyama Roshi, Deiryu Kutsu, wunschpunsch on devianART
I am fascinated by the meaning, I am a programmer and I believe that everything in life is a cycle just like in computing but that this goes further, since the virtual is an attempt to achieve real behavior, in life we open and close many cycles and that is what shapes us, I have never found a way to express it so well, as with the simplicity and complexity of a circle, thank you for this publication
I'm glad you liked it. I think it is one of the most fascinating symbols I have come across, both the circle itself and the enso in particular; although in the case of enso I think that even if a tattoo served as a reminder of its meaning, it is a contradiction.
With your comment on programming, the Matrix theory comes to mind (which is prior to the film, by the way, PKDick had already raised it among other thinkers) and I wonder to what extent our life is more real than the virtual one than you programs .
Thanks for comment.
Hi, I'm reading your article, why do you consider the enso tattoo to be a contradiction?
I think it says so, because the person must perform their own enso. Each one makes his own and is different from the others, because if you carry an image that you find on the internet it would not be yours and above all you must do it yourself and the tattoo makes it obvious to you, another person therefore is contradictory
But since we are part of a whole, I do not see it as contradictory to give someone the privilege of having it tattooed on you.
I have it tattooed and I love it.
I have one tattooed on my back, it fascinates me
Well, it looks father. it sounds interesting and it is said that you have to do it yourself. Let's do it . I'll get it on my wrist myself