Calligraphy of Five-Character Zen Phrases in Semicursive Script
- Period
- Edo period, 1615–1868
- Date
- c.1678–1692
- made in
- Kyoto, Kyoto urban prefecture, Japan, Asia
- Classification
- Calligraphy
- Collection
- Asian Art
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- scroll (115:1988a, left): 86 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. (219.7 x 49.5 cm)
width from roller end to roller end (115:1988a, left): 21 5/8 in. (54.9 cm)
image (image (115:1988a, left)): 52 in. x 14 3/16 in. (132.1 x 36 cm)
scroll (115:1988b, center): 86 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. (219.7 x 49.5 cm)
width from roller end to roller end (115:1988b, center): 21 5/8 in. (54.9 cm)
image (image (115:1988b, center)): 52 in. x 14 1/4 in. (132.1 x 36.2 cm)
scroll (115:1988c, right): 86 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. (219.7 x 49.5 cm)
width from roller end to roller end (115:1988c, right): 21 5/8 in. (54.9 cm)
image (image (115:1988c, right)): 51 7/8 x 14 1/8 in. (131.8 x 35.9 cm)
wooden storage box for set of three scrolls (115:1988a-c): 3 x 7 5/8 x 22 3/4 in. (7.6 x 19.4 x 57.8 cm) - Credit Line
- Funds given by Mrs. James Lee Johnson Jr.
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 115:1988a-c
NOTES
In this triptych of five-character phrases, the central scroll takes precedence, followed by the scroll on the right and finally the scroll on the left. In the central phrase "Shaolin's inexhaustible lamp", the lamp symbolizes the unending transmission of teachings from the Shaolin Monastery on Mount Song, Henan province, where the Indian monk Bodhidharma, who introduced Chan Buddhism to China, spent many years in meditation.
The texts of the flanking scrolls "Deshan's wooden 'elder staff" and "Linji's 'Diamond King' shout" allude to the distinctive teaching styles of Deshan Xuanjian (782-865) and Linji Yixuan (died 866), two important Chan Buddhist masters of the Tang dynasty. Deshan was famous for striking acolytes with his wooden staff of authority, while Linji would startle them with his sudden shouts.
The texts of the flanking scrolls "Deshan's wooden 'elder staff" and "Linji's 'Diamond King' shout" allude to the distinctive teaching styles of Deshan Xuanjian (782-865) and Linji Yixuan (died 866), two important Chan Buddhist masters of the Tang dynasty. Deshan was famous for striking acolytes with his wooden staff of authority, while Linji would startle them with his sudden shouts.
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