Kyoto Traditional Hanging Scroll Ink Wash Painting Kakejiku "Yuzen" - Authentic work by Yokoe Ittoku, Yotokuin, a temple of Rinzai sect of Myoshinji
Variations:
Hanging scrollA single breath, an infinite silence.
Shades of ink spread across the white Japanese paper.
It is a faithful reproduction of the pure air that flows through the sub-temple of Myoshinji Temple and the momentary breathing of the monk as he confronts the material.
Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, I find myself glancing at the ink painting hanging on the wall.
As I gaze at the bold yet delicate streaks and smudges of ink, the noise in my mind gradually fades away, and I feel as though I’m returning to the present moment.
Preserving masterpieces for eternity with traditional mounting techniques.
This rare piece of calligraphy has been crafted by a skilled mounter using the Kyoto's finest fabric. The finest calligraphy and mounting. This hanging scroll, a culmination of traditional Japanese art, is a masterpiece worthy of any space requiring elegance, such as a tokonoma alcove in your home or a space for welcoming important guests.
[Zen Wisdom from a Monk]
This sumi-e ink painting is inscribed with the timeless Zen phrase "Yuzen to shite Nanzan o miru" (Carefree, I gaze at the Southern Mountains). We invite you to discover the wisdom for mindful living that Rev. Yokoe of Yotokuin Temple wishes to convey through this profound artwork.
"Yuzen to shite Nanzan o miru" (Finding Peace Within)
This verse shuns florid language and the superficial praise of worldly things, choosing instead to celebrate rustic simplicity and the sublime beauty of nature. Because this philosophy resonates so deeply with Zen teachings, we frequently cite it as a core Zen phrase.
The poem contains another striking line: "Shin tohokereba chi mizukara hennari" (When the heart is detached, one’s surroundings naturally become tranquil). It means that even if you live in the midst of a bustling village, no noise can disturb you if your mind is free from worldly attachments. This is a profound realization. We often mistakenly believe that our external environment is what dictates our peace of mind.
When visitors come to our temple for Zazen (seated meditation), they often kindly say, "In a serene environment like this, I was able to meditate with a quiet mind." Yet, I always find myself offering a response that might not be what they hoped to hear: "Zazen can be practiced anywhere, as long as you have a space to sit."
It is entirely a matter of one's state of mind. I constantly feel my own shortcomings as a monk, realizing that I have inadvertently made them believe they can only find stillness here. I aspire to become the kind of Zen monk who can guide others to realize the true peace described in this poem.
Picking flowers in the garden, casually looking up, and catching sight of the mountains—feeling the breath of nature in such an ordinary, fleeting moment of daily life is where the greatest awakenings truly lie.
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Variations:
Hanging scrollLet the tranquility of Yotokuin be the core of your daily life.
Yotokuin Temple, Myoshinji Temple, Yokoe Ittoku ×
Mounting artist: Hayato Kido
In the sacred ground of the temple, Yokoe creates lines drawn in one go and ink smudges placed at exquisite intervals. These powerful yet pure works are backed and mounted in the traditional way using cloth and paper carefully selected by Kido, so that they will retain their beauty for decades, even centuries to come.
This piece, which embodies the serenity of a Zen temple and the pride of the craftsman, is not just a work of art, but a "mirror of the heart" that will accompany you and walk alongside you through life.
