“Longevity, good fortune and wealth—we want to be long lasting, but life itself will be long enough in the long run.”¹

 

The subject of this painting, the longevity god Fukurokuju, is here cleverly rendered in a pose and robes that reference Hakuin’s portraits of Daruma. Even the sweeping brushstrokes of his robe form the character kokoro, “heart,” which references the Zen master’s exhortations to look inside oneself for enlightenment. Hakuin’s inscription also contains a pun, which references the massive, phallic head of Fukurokuju, one of his attributes. While overtly about a long life, the inscription could also be read: “If it stays long and hard like this, that will be a real treasure, and you will have a pleasant and productive life.”²

 

—Bradley Bailey