The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin

Pavilion for Japanese Art, East Wing, Levels 1–3
May 22, 2011–August 14, 2011
Image

Part 1: May 22–June 28, 2011
Part 2: July 1, 2011–August 14, 2011
The exhibition will be closed Thursday, June 30, 2011.

 

 

Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768) is widely acknowledged as the most important Zen Buddhist master of the past 500 years. He was also the most influential Zen artist of Edo-period (1615-1868) Japan, but unlike the highly studied monk painters of earlier centuries, he received no formal artistic training beyond the basic skills in handling brush, ink, and paper that were required for everyday writing.

Hakuin’s self-taught, spontaneous, yet masterly and inspired painting and calligraphy, just like his teachings and writings, expressed the mind and heart of Zen for monks and lay followers alike. With the aim of reaching out to people of all social and economic classes, rather than just the élite, he invented a new visual language for his religion, depicting everyday subjects and themes from other Buddhist sects, as well as Zen patriarchs and masters.

For this first exhibition in the West devoted to Hakuin, nearly 80 of his scrolls will be gathered from collections in the United States and Japan. Organized in collaboration with New Orleans Museum of Art, and curated by Audrey Yoshiko Seo and Professor Stephen Addiss. The Los Angeles presentation is made possible by LACMA’s East Asian Art Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin is organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art

The Los Angeles presentation is made possible by LACMA's East Asian Art Council.

Image: Hakuin Ekaku, Japan, 1685 1769, Daruma, 18th century, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Image: 44 1/2 x 19 3/4 in. (113.03 x 50.17 cm); Mount: 77 3/4 x 25 in. (197.49 x 63.5 cm), Gift of Murray Smith. M.91.220.
Tea Bowl
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century
Tea Bowl
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century

Hanging scroll; ink on paper, image: 25 1/8 x 11 1/4 in.

The relationship between the Japanese tea ceremony and Zen Buddhism is deep and complex, both philosophically and aesthetically. The tea master Jakuan Sotaku wrote, “The spirit of tea is the spirit of Zen...If you do not know the taste of Zen, you do not know the taste of tea.”

Hotei Meditating
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century
Hotei Meditating
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century

Ginshu Collection

Hanging scroll; ink on paper, 48.7 x 19.8 in.

One of Hakuin’s favorite subjects was the Chinese monk Hotei shown here seated in meditation atop a large bag. Hotei’s name means "cloth bag"; he is always shown with a bag containing all his worldly possessions. The inscription above by Hakuin reads: “Well, monk, what a surprise—have you come to do zazen (seated meditation) today?”“Yup!”

Monju
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century
Monju
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century

Hanging scroll; ink on paper, 31.96 x 10.63 in.

Chikusei Collection

Seated on a lion holding a lotus is the bodhisattva, Monju (in Sanskirt Manjusri). Bodhisattvas, are potential Buddhas who vow to remain on earth to help living beings in their quest for enlightenment. Monju represents wisdom and the power to cut through all obstacles.

Seated Daruma, Seen from the Side
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century
Seated Daruma, Seen from the Side
Hakuin Ekaku
18th century

Hanging scroll; ink on paper, 42.52 x 14.69 in., Ginshu Collection

Daruma is the legendary meditation master who became the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Hakuin painted Daruma dozens of times, here seen from the side, the inscription above reads: "No matter how you look at him..." suggesting that no matter how they are represented, ultimately Daruma’s teachings are always with us.

The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin

LACMA's Curator of Japanese Art, Robert Singer, discusses the exhibition.

Hakuin and the Zen Koan

June 9, 2011

“Well, monk, what a surprise-have you come to do zazen today?“ “Yup.” …so reads the inscription on this painting by Japanese Zen master Hakuin Ekaku, currently on view in the exhibition The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin. Seated meditation or zazen in Japanese, is a key part of Zen Buddhist practice...



The Expressive Brush

December 31, 2010

As 2010 closes out this weekend, so too does one exhibition—Eye for the Sensual. It’s last day is January 2, so this weekend will be your last chance to see these beautiful works of European art from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. While you’re here you can also see Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico, which LA Times critic Christopher Knight named one his ten favorite exhibitions of the year...

Video

Talk
Zen Painting
9:00AM Saturday, August 13
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