ZEN PAINTINGS |
PAINTINGS BY JAPANESE ZEN MASTERS ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART |
YAMADA MUMON (1900-1988)
Enso
Ink on paper
Size: 13" x 39 3/8" (17 7/8" x 73 1/8" with mounting)
Mounting: Blue brocade and green silk
Click here to view complete mountingTranslation:
What is this?
This is a favorite enso inscription, and one that perfectly captures the spirit of Zen Buddhism. The painting, likewise, is contained yet expansive.
Yamada Mumon was one of the foremost Zen masters of the twentieth century. He wrote many popular books on Zen and was a prolific and talented artist. Disillusioned with his law studies, Mumon was inspired to become a priest by Kawaguchi Ekai, the famed Zen monk who was the first Japanese citizen to enter Tibet. Mumon studied with Kawaguchi and then, in 1929, entered Tenryu-ji Monastery to study under (Seki) Seisetsu Genjo.
Mumon was appointed to numerous prominent positions throughout his life. Among them, serving as 639th abbot of Myoshin-ji and chief abbot of the Myoshin-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. He was also president of Hanzano University, where he'd earned his doctorate in philosophy, and director of the Institute of Zen Culture in Kyoto.
Mumon traveled widely throughout Japan and the world, teaching about Zen, participating in inter-religious exchanges and taking part in calligraphy exhibitions.
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Danielle Williams at: zenpaintings@gmail.com