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Eccentric Monks

An early version of Zen Buddhism (called Chán by the Chinese) arrived in China around the 8th century, though some sources believe it was in the 6th century. Among Zen Buddhism's very early figures in China is a pair of 8th century, Tang Dynasty eccentric monks. Shide--his name means foundling--was a kitchen worker in China's Guoqing Temple. The story is that he was raised there from the age of 10 after having been abandoned in mountains by his parents. In spite of his humble station, Shide was said to be very wise and virtuous. Hanshan--the name means Cold Mountain--lived hermit-like in nearby mountains and wrote poetry on rocks. The two became very close friends. They survived on leftover food from the temple kitchen.

Their names in Japanese are Kanzan (Hanshan) and Jittoku (Shide). Nobody knows if they were real people or merely legends, but that hasn't stopped either Chinese or Japanese artists from painting pictures of them. The two pictures on hanging scrolls below were painted by Tobai, a little known Japanese artist. Few of his works survive. The first painting below depicts Kanzan, the poet. He is typically shown holding a scroll.

Some believe that Tobai studied under Tōyō Sesshū (c. 1420 – 1506) because of the similarity of his brush strokes to Sesshū's in the clothing the monks wear and Jittoku's broom. Others think Tobai may have been a painter of the Unkoku school that succeeded Sesshū after his death.

Kanzan is supposed to have written 600 poems, 313 of which have survived. Jittoku wrote some extant poetry, too, 7 of which are now thought to have really been written by Hanshan, making his surviving total 320.

Most Kanzan Jittoku paintings (the omission of "and" or "&" between the names is deliberate) depict both monks in the same composition. Here is one by Sesshū.

Titled "The Four Sleepers,' this small wooden 18th century sculpture shows an episode in three dimensions in the mythos of Kanzan and Jittoku that once was often depicted in two dimensions by painters. The four are asleep with another monk friend, Bukan, and his pet tiger. Bukan (Fenggan in Chinese) was the monk who found the abandoned 10-year old Jittoku and raised him. The episode represents "peaceful coexistence with nature and the enlightened mind." (from Wikipedia)

Mokuan Reien (died 1345)

Mokuan became an ordained Buddhist priest at Kamakura before 1323.  He traveled to China about 1327 to perfect his knowledge of Zen and subsequently helped to bring zenga to Japan. His painting below depicts the same story of The Four Sleepers as the sculpture above.

Nakanuma Shōkadō (1584 - 1639)

Nakanuma is chiefly known as one of Japan's three greatest calligraphers. Among his accomplishments was the revival of sō (grass), a rapid cursive writing style that originated in China. He also devoted his life to poetry, the tea ceremony, and painting as shown by this 2-panel byōbu. You can see that the tradition of a blank scroll wasn't absolute.

Kanō Tsunenobu (1636 – 1713)

Tsunenobu studied art under his father, Kanō Naonobu, the younger brother of the great Kanō Tan'yu. After his father's death, Tsunebobu continued his studies with his uncle. Tsunenobu became the head of the Kanō school in 1674.

Soga Shōhaku (1730–1781)

Shōhaku studied with a Kanō master and later with the Soga school, where he got part of his artist's name, but his painting style is mostly a revival of a style taught in the Unkoku school about 150 years earlier. The poetry on this hanging scroll was inscribed by Gyōshū Sōkan (1717 – 1787).

Yokoyama Kazan (1784-1837)

Kazan began his artistic career by copying the works of Soga Shōhaku. He had easy access to them because Kazan's family, involved with Kyōto's fabric industry, were patrons of Shōhaku. Kazan also took formal instruction from Kishi Ganku (1749-1838). All the traditional elements of Kanzan Jittoku paintings are present in this hanging scroll; the smiling faces, the slovenly carefree appearance, the broom, the blank scroll, and the comfortable connection with nature.