Art or Code? The Dual Meanings Hidden in Japanese CalligraphyIntroduction: The Other Face Hidden in Works of Art
- 清水 芳樹
- 2025年8月15日
- 読了時間: 3分
Among Japan’s antiques and historical documents are works that not only delight the eye but also serve to conceal information. Hanging scrolls, letters, and scroll manuscripts of Japanese Calligraphy sometimes contained ciphers inserted by ninjas or couriers during the Edo period.These objects represent a meeting point between art and intelligence work — a symbol of the profound depth of Japanese Culture.
“Ori Kakushi Bun” — A Three-Dimensional Cipher Technique
One encryption method used by ninjas and couriers in the Edo period was known as Ori Kakushi Bun (“fold-and-hide writing”). This technique combines the way a sheet of paper is folded with the arrangement of characters, ensuring that the text can only be read correctly when the folds are opened in a specific sequence.
How the technique worked
The paper was divided into multiple grid sections, each containing a part of the text.
The character layout was designed so the entire message connected only when folded and opened in the correct order.
Opening it in the wrong sequence resulted in a meaningless jumble.
This required not only advanced spatial planning but also skilled calligraphy. The cipher had to be integrated without compromising the elegance of the brushwork.
Visual Steganography Through Ink and Brush Pressure
Japanese Calligraphy expresses a vast range of subtlety through brush pressure and ink tone. This feature could be harnessed to hide codes or signals.For example, the same character could be written in a different pressure or ink darkness to signal “important content” to trusted recipients.
This concept closely resembles modern steganography, where information is concealed within images or other media. Here, the work stands as art in its own right, while delivering hidden meaning only to intended readers — another example of the “dual structure” often seen in Japanese Culture.
Hidden Characters in Backgrounds and Decorative Elements
In Japanese Calligraphy works such as hanging scrolls or folding screens, characters could be blended into background patterns or illustrations. From a distance, it might appear to be a landscape or floral painting, but up close, the texture of rocks or waves could reveal itself as composed of brush-written characters.
Edo-period artworks often employed such devices where the meaning changed depending on viewing distance or angle. These functioned less as practical military codes and more as “private messages” intended only for the owner or select viewers.
Historical Context and Examples
Research from Mie University’s International Ninja Research Center indicates that ninjas possessed systematic cipher methods such as the “Shinobi Iroha” and “coordinate substitution ciphers.” Alongside these, they also used non-verbal ciphers embedded in calligraphy and art.For example, in the Iga and Kōga schools, the same hanging scroll could serve as a “signal to begin operations” for allies, while appearing to outsiders as nothing more than a decorative piece.
Legacy in Contemporary Art
Today, some calligraphers and contemporary artists incorporate historical cipher techniques into their works. Examples include installations where meaning changes with the angle of light, or hidden characters that appear only under certain wavelengths. These blend modern technology with traditional craft.
Such works have attracted attention in the international art market, embodying both the aesthetic value of Japanese Calligraphy and the intellectual allure rooted in Japanese Culture.
The Value of Calligraphy with Dual Meanings
Feature | Description |
Artistic Value | Appreciated as beautiful brushwork and composition |
Informational Value | Carries messages decipherable only by select recipients |
Historical Value | Linked to the traditions of ninjas and couriers from the Edo period |
Modern Relevance | Applied in contemporary art and design, gaining global recognition |
This dual nature makes Japanese Calligraphy more than just an art form — it is a unique cultural artifact that combines aesthetic expression with strategic communication.
Conclusion: Japanese Calligraphy at the Crossroads of Art and Code
Japanese Calligraphy is a rare form of expression that can embody both surface beauty and hidden meaning. This ability is deeply connected to the aesthetics of subtlety and secrecy found in Japanese Culture, and has been passed down from the past to the present.Even today, this duality continues to inspire new creations and value, captivating people around the world.
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