About Kokū

Hands holding a bamboo sumi-e brush over paper beside an ink stone, in soft natural light.
Sumi-e Painting, Explained
Black ink, a brush, and a sheet of paper. Meet sumi-e, the centuries-old Japanese art of ink painting rooted in Zen, and the practice behind every Kokū card. Read more...
A woman painting an ensō in black ink with a small vermilion dot above it, the brush meeting the paper.
The Ensō, Explained
A single circle, brushed in one movement and left open. Meet the ensō, one of Zen's most recognized marks, and the symbol at the heart of Kokū. Read more...
A hand painting bamboo in black sumi-e ink on paper, with a bamboo brush and dish of ink alongside.
The Making of Kokū Meditations
Every card in the Kokū Meditations deck began as an original sumi-e painting, made by hand in ink on paper. Over 100 hours of painting across 54 artworks. Read more...