Chirashi-gaki (散らし書き,[3] ちらし書き), meaning "scattered writing", is a creative calligraphic form of versification used in Japanese, often for waka (tanka) poems,[4][5][6] and in private letters.
[9] Chirashigaki may also retain the order, but divide and space the characters unconventionally, with a column break partway through a poetic line or a word.
[4][5] These techniques are used to give a sense of rhythm and depth, bringing the aesthetics of a painting to the calligraphy.
[10] Chirashi-gaki effects are the subject of detailed academic study.
The seemingly-random jumps in pitch between the isolated melodic notes are intended to be reminiscent of chirashi-gaki.
Chirashi-gaki calligraphy by
Hon'ami Kōetsu
,
[
1
]
with a pattern printed using
hinoki
leaves dipped in gold and silver ink
[
2
]
(early 17th century). Note dramatic differences in the weight of the calligraphic lines. The poem, from the
Kokin wakashū
, describes autumn leaves floating down on a meltwater spate from the mountains. It reads:
此河に もみぢばなかがる おく山の
雪げの水ぞ いまゝさるらし
[
1
]
This poem by
Uma no Naishi
is written in chiragasaki, arranged by a schoolgirl studying calligraphy 790 years after the poet's death. The first part of the poem is written darkly in the third column from the right, while the second column from the right comes later in the poem. The third through sixth columns are written sequentially right-to-left but start successively further down the page; the remaining half of the poem is scattered among the earlier characters.
[
8
]
