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Chinese Poem about a Bamboo Grove

Ryōkan Taigu Japanese
early 19th century
Not on view
At first glance the cursive Chinese calligraphy by the monk Ryōkan Taigu seems, even to those trained in the language, to be somewhat sloppy, almost childish in appearance, and illegible in places. But this disarmingly simple, artless, and exuberant style of brush writing—utterly individual and idiosyncratic—earned Ryōkan esteem as one of the great Zen calligraphers of all time.

Though trained as a Sōtō Zen monk, he renounced the rigors of a monastic regimen and opted to live mostly as a recluse, becoming known as an eccentric. He was dedicated to poetry in both Chinese and Japanese, especially the haiku form. Examples of his verse brushed in his own distinctive hand were avidly sought in his own day—and still are today.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 良寛大愚筆　五言詩　「余家有竹林」
  • Title: Chinese Poem about a Bamboo Grove
  • Artist: Ryōkan Taigu (Japanese, 1758–1831)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: early 19th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 49 7/16 × 19 1/16 in. (125.6 × 48.4 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 81 9/16 × 24 in. (207.2 × 61 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 81 9/16 × 26 in. (207.2 × 66 cm)
  • Classification: Calligraphy
  • Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2018
  • Object Number: 2018.853.29
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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