Fifteenth Annual International
Zen Calligraphy Intensive — Menlo Park, CA
June 1-7, 2026
Kazuaki Tanahashi with Christine Renden Haggarty 

Enhance your experience with East Asian calligraphy and imbue your spirit this week with your artistic interests. Please join us while we work together to explore this realm.

Daily activities will include meditation, readings of Zen texts, presentations on the history of East Asian calligraphy and Qigong exercises. You will practice with formal, semi-cursive, and cursive characters as well as their artistic interpretations during studio time.  You will learn how to paint your favorite phrases, then mount your calligraphy for display. You will experiment with brushes and paper of different sizes, painting with black ink and watercolors. Kaz Sensei will work with participants to develop their own artistic names.

Due to Mercy Center closing the intensive will be at Vallombrosa Center, Menlo Park, CA. Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park is located on a ten-acre site that was originally the home of E.W. Hopkins, the nephew of Mark Hopkins.  The Hopkins home, known as the Old Mansion, was built during the Civil War period. Originally a simple wooden structure, it was later expanded and decorated with its distinctive Italianate touches.

Vallombrosa is graced by trees from all over the world.  The gingko tree of Chinese origin, located in front of the Old Mansion, is the largest of its kind in the area.  The trees, and the interplay of the sun and shadow throughout the grounds, undoubtedly influenced Mr. Hopkins in naming his estate.

The name “Vallombrosa” means “shady glen,” and refers to a beautiful forested area southeast of Florence, Italy. It was there in 1095 that St. John Gualbert established a monastery of Benedictine monks that survives to this day.   At one point in his life, John Milton visited that monastery, and he wrote of the “shady glens of Vallombrosa” in his Paradise Lost.

Kazuaki Tanahashi is a world renowned calligrapher, painter, Zen scholar, author, and translator of Buddhist texts including works by Zen Master Dogen. Also a peace activitist and a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science.

Accommodations: Single rooms, all are en suite

Transportation: AIRFARE IS NOT INCLUDED.  Depending on your country of origin, travel documents may be required; please check on what documents you may need for entering the United States. Uber or taxi from SFO to Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park (approximately 20 miles).

Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the fee.  There are no special menu requests taken, but the food is ample to fit any dietary restrictions.  Request a sample menu, if you are concerned.

Deposit:  Please ccontact Christine  at zenbrush@yahoo.com to put your name on the list of participants.  Early registration is advised because the workshop is limited to 23 participants.  Total cost for the week is $2150.  After February 1, 2026 (late registration) cost of the workshop is $2300. Workshop deposit ($1150) must be paid by February 1, 2026.  Make checks out to Zen Brush Workshop and send to 10688 Grays Court, Forestville, CA 95436 or contact Christine to make deposit arrangements.  Final payment, $1000 should be paid by April 1, 2026. Participants outside the U.S. can do a wire transfer or be invoiced through Paypal with a small transaction fee added. Contact Christine to make these arrangements. For more information and a tentative schedule, go to zenbrush.net.

Cancellation:  These percentages will only apply if we can not find a replacement participant. For a cancellation request before the workshop, a cancellation fee of 25% of the total cost will be levied.  A cancellation less than 40 days before the workshop, a 25% cancellation fee will be changed, AS LONG AS WE HAVE A REPLACEMENT PARTICIPANT, otherwise a 75% cancellation fee will be charged.  Extreme circumstances will be taken into consideration.