Chinese Poem to Celebrate a Senior Monk’s Sixtieth Birthday 1667 - 1733

This is a hanging scroll inscribed with a poem by Duzhan Xingying, a Chinese Chan Buddhist monk who lived in the 17th century. The inscription celebrates the sixtieth birthday of a senior monk, and is presented in dynamic, swirling calligraphy. Calligraphy in the Zen tradition transcends mere writing, becoming a profound expression of inner state. The monk's brushstrokes, thick and thin, reflect the energy of the Chi, a concept mirrored in the 'pathos formula' of Western art. Think of the ecstatic dance of a Maenad: a kindred spirit captured in ink. Just as antique sculptures were reborn in Renaissance art, so too does the spirit of Chan calligraphy reappear across cultures and generations. The scroll’s fluid strokes embody a release of emotion, similar to the uninhibited gestures seen in later abstract expressionism. This primal act of expression bypasses the intellect, engaging directly with our deepest, often unconscious, emotional states. The cyclical progression of the symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.