Line from a Poem by Li Bai
Seigan Sōi Japanese
Not on view
As abbot of the prestigious Daitokuji Temple, Seigan Sōi saw himself as part of a distinguished lineage of Zen monk-calligraphers, including Ikkyū Sōjun and Motsurin Jōtō—both active in the fifteenth century. In Eighteen Principles of Tea, Seigan described the concepts behind wabi-cha, a tea practice in which unpretentious, rustic tea wares were favored. A tea master par excellence, he embraced the dictum of Sen no Rikyū (1522–1591) that “the most important ‘utensil’ in the tearoom was the hanging scroll”—in other words, a monk’s calligraphy.
Seigan’s quickly brushed line from a verse by the eighth-century poet Li Bai was no doubt intended for display during tea gatherings:
高殿坐幽人
In the lofty hall,
holy men sit in meditation.
—Trans. John T. Carpenter
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
