早
林
木 - Tree
A lone 木 - vertical trunk rises from the forest floor, sturdy and straight like the sacred trees (神木, shinboku) guarding a Shinto shrine.
From its side sprouts the left branch - diagonal stroke to the left, stretching toward a fluttering Tanabata wish tied with colorful paper strips.
On the opposite side, the right branch - diagonal stroke to the right reaches for sunlight, rustling softly with a “さらさら” sound as if Kodama spirits (木霊) whisper secrets.
Beneath it, the ground / base - horizontal stroke at bottom anchors the tree like the wooden beams of an Edo-period temple, solid and enduring.
Imagine autumn leaves turning red and orange, a gentle breeze playing a bamboo flute melody, and tiny bonsai versions echoing the full tree above-every stroke a living, memorable 木.
