The Zen Eccentric Xianzi [left of a pair of Zhutou and Xianzi] by Yōgetsu

The Zen Eccentric Xianzi [left of a pair of Zhutou and Xianzi] late 15th-early 16th century

ink-on-paper

aged paper

toned paper

water colours

japan

tea stained

ink-on-paper

coloured pencil

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This hanging scroll depicts the Zen eccentric Xianzi, painted by Yōgetsu in the late 15th-early 16th century. Yōgetsu, a Japanese painter known for his ink paintings, captures Xianzi in a simple yet expressive style. Xianzi is shown standing against a background of trees and brushstrokes that evoke a natural landscape, possibly a mountain scene. The artist’s use of black ink on paper creates a sense of tranquility and emptiness, reflecting the Zen Buddhist philosophy. This piece, housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, provides insight into the artistic and spiritual practices of the time.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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These paintings show two eccentric Chinese Zen priests, both of whom became famous for ignoring Zen restrictions on eating meat. Zhutou, at right, loved to eat boar meat and was known for carrying a boar head around town. His counterpart at left, Xianzi, was known to wander riverbanks eating clams, shrimp, and crayfish. Legend has it that Xianzi gained enlightenment while catching a shrimp, and this is the moment shown here. Despite their disregard for Zen monastic rules, such unruly priests were often held in high regard for following their own paths. This pair of hanging scrolls is among a small handful of works by the enigmatic painter Yōgetsu, known only by the seals impressed on his works. He is believed to have been a Zen priest living in Kyoto.