64
Artist
Sengai Gibon(Japanese, 1750–1837)Japanese, 1750–1837
Kanzan and Jittoku
late 18th or early 19th century
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Overall (each): 37 × 11 7/16 in. (94 × 29 cm)
Mount (each): 66 1/4 × 12 in. (168.2 × 30.5 cm)
Roller (each): 14 3/16 × 1 in. (36.1 × 2.6 cm)
EX.2023.NW.074.a,.b
“[Kanzan]: A thousand grasses weep with dew, the wind sings in the pines. Sengai
[Jittoku]: Dew soaks a thousand grasses one shade that reflects the autumn moon. Like a song, the sound of the wind in the pines. Sengai”1
Kanzan and Jittoku (or Hanshan and Shide, in Chinese) were beloved seventh-century Chinese figures who embody the carefree nature of Zen. Often shown playing or wandering aimlessly, here they read and translate a poem for the benefit of the viewer. Kanzan, at right, reads first in Chinese, and Jittoku repeats it in Japanese. Sengai shows his mastery by signing each inscription.
—Bradley Bailey