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Celebrating the Legacy of Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryuki) and the Art of Ōbaku

Celebrating the Legacy of Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryuki) and the Art of Ōbaku

Artists and Poets

In addition to their distinctive Buddhist practice, Ōbaku monks in Japan were admired for their depth of knowledge of the central Chinese intellectual tradition of the educated elite. As Chinese men of letters (literati), they gathered informally to participate in elegant leisure activities such as composing poetry and brushing paintings. The monks’ erudition was much admired in Edo period Japan where the government promoted the moral values of Chinese Confucianism among the populace. These monks and their followers synthesized aspects of Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian philosophies and expressed their individualistic spirits in poems and Buddhist phrases rendered in elegant calligraphy. They brushed informal ink paintings, most often of flowers and plants—pine, bamboo, chrysanthemum, orchid, and plum—symbolic of the purity and stalwart nature of the literati spirit. They also inscribed works by Japanese artists from a wide variety of artistic traditions with original or classic Chinese literati poems. Group participation in the literati arts was often accompanied by the drinking of sencha (steeped green leaf tea). Through the efforts of the Ōbaku monk, Chinese verse poet, and calligrapher Baisaō (popularly known as the Old Tea Seller), sencha grew to become a full-fledged tea ceremony to rival that of the more familiar chanoyu tradition, which featured bowls of whisked powdered tea.
HANDSCROLL WITH SIX POEMS PRAISING PLANTS by Duli Xingyi (Jp. Dokuryū Shōeki)

HANDSCROLL WITH SIX POEMS PRAISING PLANTS by Duli Xingyi (Jp. Dokuryū Shōeki)

Handscroll with six poems praising plants Duli Xingyi 独立性易 (Jp. Dokuryū Shōeki, 1596-1672) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Handscroll, ink on paper 29.5 cm x 539.5 cm Collection of Harald Conrad 題五色牡丹圖 光風獨佔滿堂春 夭矯輕拈五色塵 寫生筆底何振振 丹青地潑花間茵 枝交葉接華無限 歡如三之潛溪新 玉樓春早迎曦晨 紅若珠葉笑勻勻...

SPRING MOUNTAINS by Nanyuan Xingpai (Jp. Nangen Shōha)

SPRING MOUNTAINS by Nanyuan Xingpai (Jp. Nangen Shōha)

Spring Mountains Nanyuan Xingpai 南源性派 (Jp. Nangen Shōha, 1631- 1692) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 28.2 cm x 60.5 cm, 114.5 cm x 63 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 青帝令下已再三 春山染出色如藍 亭前縱目歸雲暮 雙鶴飛來作晚參 Following the decree of the Great...

SPRING COLORS by Quanta Xingan (Jp. Sengai Shōan)

SPRING COLORS by Quanta Xingan (Jp. Sengai Shōan)

Spring Colors Quanta Xingan 千呆性侒 (Jp. Sengai Shōan, 1636-1705) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 63.7 cm x 29.2 cm, 67.8 cm x 121 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 紫宸宮裡話禪機 看彼靈雲更不疑 空手牽牛天外去 無邊春色燦龍鬚 The Buddhist wisdom was transmitted in...

BAMBOO by Dapeng Zhengkun (Jp. Taihō Shōkon)

BAMBOO by Dapeng Zhengkun (Jp. Taihō Shōkon)

Bamboo Dapeng Zhengkun 大鵬正鯤 (Jp. Taihō Shōkon, 1691- 1774) Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 25.2 cm x 110 cm, 37 cm x 170.5 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad Return...

BAMBOO IN SNOW by Dapeng Zhengkun (Jp. Taihō Shōkon)

BAMBOO IN SNOW by Dapeng Zhengkun (Jp. Taihō Shōkon)

Bamboo in Snow Dapeng Zhengkun 大鵬正鯤 (Jp. Taihō Shōkon, 1691-1774) Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 37.9 cm x 108.6 cm, 40.7 cm x 189.5 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad [button link="https://ingen.arizona.edu/artists-and-poets/"...

HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND TAKE A REST by Tetsugyū Dōki

HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND TAKE A REST by Tetsugyū Dōki

Have a cup of tea and take a rest Tetsugyū Dōki 鉄牛道機 (1628-1700) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 131 cm x 31 cm, 212 cm x 33 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 喫茶珍重歇 Have a cup of tea and take a rest —trans. Harald Conrad [button...

CALLIGRAPHY OF A FOUR-LINE SEVEN-CHARACTER POEM by Fukami Gentai (Kō Ten’i)

CALLIGRAPHY OF A FOUR-LINE SEVEN-CHARACTER POEM by Fukami Gentai (Kō Ten’i)

Calligraphy of a four-line seven-character poem, 1693 Fukami Gentai (Kō Ten’i) 深見玄岱 (高天漪) (1649-1722) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 127.7 cm x 39.5 cm, 201 cm x 51.8 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 峨々樹影瀧峰高 柏冷松寒捲怒涛 何似北風翻大海 覚来郷地等秋毫...

THE COLOR OF THE MOON by Yueshan Daozong (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū)

THE COLOR OF THE MOON by Yueshan Daozong (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū)

The color of the moon Yueshan Daozong 悦山道宗 (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū, 1629-1709) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 28.2 cm x 61.2 cm, 125 cm x 72.5 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 月色和雲白  松聲带露寒 The color of the moon shaded by white...

A SEVEN-CHARACTER QUATRAIN by Yueshan Daozong (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū)

A SEVEN-CHARACTER QUATRAIN by Yueshan Daozong (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū)

A seven-character quatrain Yueshan Daozong 悦山道宗 (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū, 1629-1709) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 136 cm x 32.7 cm, 195.6 cm x 45.4 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 緑樹院寿山禅師為西堂作此贈謝博取－粲 多年親佩黑瀧印 綠樹影中養聖胎 黃檗煩充第二座...

ORCHID by Tesshin Dōhan

ORCHID by Tesshin Dōhan

Orchid Tesshin Dōhan 鉄心道胖 (1641-1710, painter) and Yueshan Daozong 悦山道宗 (Jp. Essan or Etsuzan Dōshū, 1629-1709, calligrapher) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 28.3 cm x 77.6 cm, 120 cm x 79.3 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 蘭 質非同衆卉...

PLUM by Muan Xingtao (Jp. Mokuan Shōtō)

PLUM by Muan Xingtao (Jp. Mokuan Shōtō)

Plum Muan Xingtao 木菴性瑫 (Jp. Mokuan Shōtō, 1611-1684) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 33.2 cm x 61 cm, 133.5 cm x 76.3 cm (mounted) Collection of Harald Conrad 梅 不是一番寒徹骨、爭得梅花撲鼻香 Plum - If it were not for a turn of bone-piercing cold, How...

NARCISSUS by Gaoquan Xingdun (Jp. Kōsen Shōton)

NARCISSUS by Gaoquan Xingdun (Jp. Kōsen Shōton)

Narcissus Gaoquan Xingdun 高泉性潡 (Jp. Kōsen Shōton, 1633-1695) Japan, Edo Period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 28.5 x 30.2 cm; 113.3 x 1.3 cm (mounted) Collection of Stuart Katz Not even half a speck of worldly dust can stain it; Amidst the water it is able...

HUMILITY by Monchū Jōfuku

HUMILITY by Monchū Jōfuku

Humility Monchū Jōfuku聞中浄復 (1739-1829) Japan, Edo Period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll; ink on paper 118 x 27.8 cm; 186 x 35 cm (mounted) Collection of Stuart Katz 勞⽽不伐有功⽽不德厚之⾄也 （司？）處僧聞中寫 Don’t be prideful of your accomplishments. Even if they are significant...

DRAGON by Gettan Dōchō

DRAGON by Gettan Dōchō

Dragon Gettan Dōchō月潭道澄 (1635-1713) Japan, Edo Period (1615-1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 115 x 26.3 cm; 194 x 28 cm (mounted) Collection of Stuart Katz 龍一聲聴得春雷震大悲甘霖滴萬方 The dragon’s roar brings spring lightning and shakes the universe. Then the rain of mercy...

FLOWERS AND PLANTS OF THE FOUR SEASONS by Kakutei

FLOWERS AND PLANTS OF THE FOUR SEASONS by Kakutei

Flowers and Plants of the Four Seasons, 1774 Kakutei 鶴亭 (1722–1785) Japan, Edo period, 1615–1868 Pair of six-panel folding screens, ink on paper 171.1 x 61.6 cm (painting, each panel) Saint Louis Art Museum, The Langenberg Endowment Fund and Museum Shop Fund,...

BEAN VINE by Itō Jakuchū

BEAN VINE by Itō Jakuchū

Bean Vine, mid-18th century Itō Jakuchū 伊藤 若冲 (1716–1800) Inscribed by Musen Jōzen 無染淨善, 1693–1764 Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 125.7 x 47.9 cm; 192.1 x 61.6 cm (mounted) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Lita Annenberg Hazen...

MY HEART IS LIKE THE AUTUMN MOON by Baisaō

MY HEART IS LIKE THE AUTUMN MOON by Baisaō

Chinese poem by Hanshan, “My heart is like the autumn moon,” 1760 Baisaō 売茶翁 (1675-1763) Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) Hanging scroll, ink on paper 28.5 x 50 cm; 114.5 x 64 cm (mounted) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary...

SPARROW ON A BLOSSOMING PLUM TREE by Kanō Tan’yū

SPARROW ON A BLOSSOMING PLUM TREE by Kanō Tan’yū

Sparrow on a blossoming plum tree, 1661 Kanō Tan’yū 狩野 探幽 (1602-1674) Inscribed and dated by Muan Xingtao 木菴性瑫 (Jp. Mokuan Shōtō, 1611-1684) Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink on paper 32.7 × 56.2 cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Purchased through The...

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