Zen
I have some "Kanji" Japanese puzzle boxes on my in my making list. This photo shows the "Zen" box, which is 4 sun in size. I have several types of Kanji boxes. The Zen box is the most popular among the Kanji puzzle boxes. It seems that the spirit of Zen is well-known overseas too, with many people practicing "zazen" and "meiso" (meditation). Originally a Buddhist concept introduced from China, Zen seems to be popular among foreigners because it overlaps with Japanese culture.
This puzzle box opens in 12 steps (or 14 steps). The Zen character is printed on it. The printed material was pasted on the top panel, but the technique required to do so was very difficult. The background (top panel design) of the Zen character is a slightly green pattern reminiscent of Japanese paper. The Zen character is also a dark green. This is my design, and I chose the color green because I associate the Zen spirit with the silence of being in the forest. The side panels have a checkered (Ichimatsu) pattern in just two colors, but this too is a calm design without using a variety of colors. I plan to make them again. Would you like this box as a gift?π
This puzzle box opens in 12 steps (or 14 steps). The Zen character is printed on it. The printed material was pasted on the top panel, but the technique required to do so was very difficult. The background (top panel design) of the Zen character is a slightly green pattern reminiscent of Japanese paper. The Zen character is also a dark green. This is my design, and I chose the color green because I associate the Zen spirit with the silence of being in the forest. The side panels have a checkered (Ichimatsu) pattern in just two colors, but this too is a calm design without using a variety of colors. I plan to make them again. Would you like this box as a gift?π
