: The practice requires total focus and presence. Every stroke is final and cannot be erased or corrected on the absorbent paper, mirroring the Zen focus on the "now".
Introduced to Japan by Zen Buddhist monks from China in the 14th century, Sumi-e evolved into a meditative spiritual practice. Sumi-e: The Art of Japanese Ink Painting
To practice Sumi-e, an artist traditionally uses four fundamental tools: : The practice requires total focus and presence