50
Artist
Jiun OnkōJapanese, 1718–1804
The Great Hermit
18th century
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
Overall: 43 7/16 × 19 11/16 in. (110.3 × 50 cm)
Mount: 77 1/16 × 24 1/2 in. (195.8 × 62.2 cm)
Roller: 27 × 1 1/2 in. (68.6 × 3.8 cm)
EX.2023.NW.020
“Why is it necessary for a great hermit to hide in a deep forest?—The Old Double Dragon”1
A monk of the Shingon sect, Jiun Onkō was one of the most prolific monk calligraphers of the Edo period. Deeply learned, he studied esoteric Buddhism as well as Zen and Confucianism, even learning Sanskrit to read Buddhist texts in their original language. With this calligraphy, signed using a somewhat self-deprecating artist’s name, he humorously questions the tradition of pilgrimage, not only as a practical matter but also to imply that true enlightenment comes from within and can be experienced anywhere.
—Bradley Bailey