CentralNotice From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation , search For other uses, see Enso (disambiguation) . Ensō (c. 2000) by Kanjuro Shibata XX . Some artists draw ensō with an opening in the circle, while others close the circle. In Zen Buddhism , an ensō ( 円 相 , , "circle" ? ) is a circle that is hand-drawn in one or two uninhibited brushstrokes to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create. The ensō symbolizes absolute enlightenment , strength, elegance, the universe, and mu (the void). It is characterised by a minimalism born of Japanese aesthetics . Drawing ensō is a disciplined-creative practice of Japanese ink painting— sumi-e ( 墨絵 , "ink painting" ? ) . The tools and mechanics of drawing the ensō are the same as those used in traditional Japanese calligraphy : One uses a brush ( 筆 , fude ? ) to apply ink to wash...