Through his student Kay Morrisey Thompson, master calligrapher Ukai Uchiyama teaches readers the language of sumi-e, the distinctive Japanese calligraphy which combines Zen spirituality and boldly mimetic natural images. This beautiful volume, winner of the Good Design Award from the American Booksellers Association, offers striking illustrations in black and white and color of its lessons on the practice and philosophy of sumi-e. Readers are encouraged to learn about the bamboo-handled brushes and ink sticks, experiment with simple naturalistic forms, and explore the history and spiritual foundation of an art form which this book makes accessible to Westerners for the first time.