Half-length Portrait of Bodhidharma by Hakuin Ekaku

Half-length Portrait of Bodhidharma c. mid 18th century

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paper, ink

portrait

asian-art

paper

ink

abstraction

calligraphy

Dimensions 44 11/16 × 21 15/16 in. (113.51 × 55.72 cm) (image)75 × 27 5/8 in. (190.5 × 70.17 cm) (without roller)

This is Hakuin Ekaku’s “Half-length Portrait of Bodhidharma,” made with ink on paper in the mid-18th century. Hakuin, a prominent figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, often used his art to convey spiritual teachings and challenge conventional modes of thought. Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, is depicted with fierce eyes and a heavy beard, exuding an aura of intensity. This work reflects the intersection of religious identity and artistic expression in Edo period Japan. Hakuin’s distinctive style, characterized by bold brushstrokes and a focus on capturing the essence of his subjects, departs from traditional portraiture. The inscription accompanying the image adds another layer of meaning, inviting viewers to contemplate the nature of enlightenment. Hakuin once said "See with your own eyes and not through the eyes of another". This sentiment speaks to the heart of Zen practice. This piece serves as a reminder of the importance of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

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minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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Bodhidharma: Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1769), a Zen priest and prolific amateur painter, is creditedwith reviving the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism after a long period of decline. Hakuin focused on meditation and paradoxical anecdotes or dialogues called kōan, the contemplation of which may lead to spontaneous awakening. Hakuin’s bold, sometimes humorous, and altogether unprecedented paintings, were an important vehicle for his teachings, which spread far beyond the monasteries and captured the minds of laypeople. In this work, he painted an imagined portrait of Bodhidharma, the Indian monk credited with transmitting Zen from India to China 1,500 years ago. The patriarch holds his hands before him underneath his robe and casts his gaze up toward four Chinese characters, 見性成佛, which —“look inside to become a buddha.” The four characters are from a poem, attributed toBodhidharma himself, that gets at the central teaching of Zen, that all individuals already possess a buddha-nature and that through focusing inward through meditation, one may realize this and gain enlightenment.