ART EXHIBIT : In honor of royal newlyweds, masters demonstrate ‘the way of writing.’

An exhibit featuring works of calligraphy created as gifts for Japan’s newlywed royal couple will continue through next weekend at the Torrance Joslyn Fine Arts Gallery.

“Japanese Calligraphy: In Celebration of the Royal Wedding” includes 77 works created by master calligraphers to honor the recent wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. The works represent a contemporary sampling of the 1,500-year-old art known as shodo, or “the way of writing.” Those who mastered shodo were said to be educated, moral individuals.

The exhibition in Torrance is the only United States stop on an international tour of more than 40 countries, said Barbara Johnson, the show’s curator.

The exhibit has been organized by the Japan Calligraphic Art Academy in Tokyo and coordinated locally by the Japan Calligraphy Center, a joint project of the Tokyo academy and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles.

Johnson said she was pleased that the exhibition “would come here to our little gallery in Torrance. It seems like it should be shown in the Smithsonian (Institution in Washington)”

Each work of calligraphy has been written in black ink on rice paper, mounted on silk and attached to scrolls of wood, bone and ivory, Johnson said. Some of the silk designs are elaborate, featuring golden thread used to create images of animals and bonsai trees.

The calligraphers have transcribed poems that offer good wishes to the couple. Some poems were selected from classical Japanese literature. The work created by calligrapher Ohtei Kaneko for example, uses these words from Emperor Jomei: “The deer which cries at nightfall has found a home and cries no more.”

Other calligraphers chose decidedly contemporary and personal passages. One piece includes part of a poem written by the Crown Prince himself and transcribed by calligraphers Ichiro Higashiyama and Suho Inagaki: “When I see the cranes dancing in the sky I feel my long awaited dream has come true.”

The effect of the works hanging side by side, Johnson said, is one of “perfect balance, harmony and serenity. . . . Even the works that are more bold and are more like abstract art have a certain serenity.”

The art of Japanese calligraphy has its roots in China where excellence in writing was said to be a trait of superior character, according to show organizers. A master calligrapher was seen as someone who had also achieved high moral stature.

The show exhibits a variety of scripts, representing writing styles through the ages. Tensho, one of the more ancient styles, is traditionally used to carve official stamps or seals. Reisho, considered to be a clerical script, was used for official documents. Kaisho, a clear, block script, is popular for its readable style. Gyosho, or “running style” script, is created with a quick brush stroke that results in abbreviated characters. Sosho, or “grass writing,” is a fluid, cursive style.

The Crown Prince’s calligraphy instructor, Ichiro Higashiyama, will demonstrate the writing art Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Workshop participants will be introduced to some of the basics of the art.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Friday. Visitors should call the gallery for information on weekend and extended weekday hours. The Fine Arts Gallery is at 3320 Civic Center Drive in Torrance. (310) 618-6341.