“Venerate the 100 seal script characters for longevity, each one is a lotus pedestal of the marvelous law, a source of miraculous, unsurpassed magic and a picture of the golden body of a Buddha. Those who bow, respect, and believe in them will avoid thunder and fires, be safe from the seven disasters, and bring forth sevenfold good fortune.”¹

 

The extensive inscription, which appears to the right of the large central character for “longevity,” imparts a talismanic quality to this painting. In addition, Hakuin’s repetition of the characters, executed a hundred times in different, imaginative scripts, some of which emulate ancient seals or seem to contain bird-like forms, was itself a kind of meditative performance, showcasing Hakuin’s mastery of calligraphy. Hakuin is known to have painted several versions of this composition, indicating its popularity.² This version is distinguished by the inscription to the left of the central character, which indicates that it was painted at the end of Hakuin’s life, something mentioned by the monk himself, who references the death of the Buddha (parinirvana), which occurred beneath the boughs of trees in a forest. Hakuin’s inscription reads: “The old monk Hakuin under the trees of nirvana, 83 years old, burns incense and prostrates nine times. 1767, seventh month, an auspicious day.”³

 

—Bradley Bailey