Ox-herding Zen

sengai

comic strip sketch

hand-lettering

head

pen illustration

hand drawn type

hand lettering

text

ink line art

linework heavy

sketchwork

hand-drawn typeface

organism

small lettering

arm

"Ox-herding" is a series of 10 Zen Buddhist illustrations, each depicting a different stage of enlightenment. This particular illustration, attributed to the Japanese Zen master Sengai (1750-1837), represents the sixth stage, where the seeker has found the "true self." It depicts a man riding an ox, symbolizing the mastery of the mind and the integration of the spiritual path into daily life. The simple, bold brushstrokes of Sengai's style are characteristic of Zen art, emphasizing the immediacy and directness of the enlightenment experience.