Zen and Ink Painting | 13th–16th century
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Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons (detail), Attributed to Sesshū Tōyō, Muromachi period, 15th century (Important Cultural Property)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 3
February 18, 2025 (Tue) - April 6, 2025 (Sun)Zen Buddhism was introduced from China, and had widespread influence on culture in Japan. Zen does not stress elaborate rituals or the study of sacred texts. Rather, it teaches that meditation and daily tasks, even cooking and cleaning, are the way to spiritual enlightenment. In the 13th century, monks brought Zen to Japan as a complete school of Buddhist thought.
These monks also brought the latest cultural practices from China. One of them was ink painting, which uses expressive lines and delicate gradations to portray nature and people. Ink painting spread beyond Zen temples and became a major artistic tradition in Japan.
Another practice was calligraphy by Zen masters, which was prized for its spiritual and aesthetic value. Along with the painting and calligraphy shown here, Zen Buddhism influenced tea ceremony, garden design, and many other forms of art.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Words of Encouragement for Kakudōjin | By Shūhō Myōchō (1282–1337) | Nanbokuchō period, 14th century | Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokyo | |||
| Sermon Preached by the Zen Master Daitō Kokushi | By Ikkyū Sōjun (1394–1481) | Muromachi period, 15th century | Gift of Mr. Nakajima Yōichi, B-2548 | ||||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons | Attributed to Sesshū Tōyō | Muromachi period, 15th century | A-12335 |