Reading a Sutra by Moonlight

Jifei Ruyi (Sokuhi Nyoitsu) Chinese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 228

Facing away from the viewer, a monk sits deeply absorbed in reading the sutra he holds in his hands. At left, the fluid and elongated cursive calligraphy of the Chinese Ōbaku Zen monk Jifei Ruyi suggests that the wisdom the monk seeks in the sutra resides elsewhere. This rejection of reliance on scripture is one of the principles of Zen Buddhism. The inscription reads:

月白紙一色　眼与墨俱黑
妙義个中圓　了亦不可得

Moon and white paper are of one color.
The pupil of the eye and the ink
are both black.
The marvelous meaning,
lodged in the circle,
Is beyond comprehension.
—Trans. Jonathan Chaves

Reading a Sutra by Moonlight, Jifei Ruyi (Sokuhi Nyoitsu) (Chinese, 1616–1671), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Reading a Sutra by Moonlight, Jifei Ruyi (Sokuhi Nyoitsu) (Chinese, 1616–1671), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
Reading a Sutra by Moonlight, Jifei Ruyi (Sokuhi Nyoitsu) (Chinese, 1616–1671), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.