Ryokan

JAPAN, Niigata, Izumozaki; Edo period

Ryokan was a poet, calligrapher, and Zen monk of the Soto school who had an original family name of Yamamoto and was also known as Taigu. He was from Izumozaki, Echigo (present day Niigata). Ryokan renounced at a young age under Master Kokusen at Entsuji Temple in Okayama. After his ordination, he traveled extensively for many years, but eventually returned to his hometown and stayed in a grass hut in order to completely devote himself to Buddhist practice. Living a carefree and frugal life, his detached mentality was expressed through his artwork and poetry.
He studied the calligraphic styles of China and the mid-Heian period (794–1185), and developed his own distinctive way of writing that expressed his sense of humility and was not limited to any certain format; it is clear and sparse, and naturally shows his character and deep cultivation.
Ryokan’s disciple, Teishin, compiled and published a collection of his works. The majority of his calligraphy consisted of sayings by Zen patriarchs or copies of sutras. His transcription of the Heart Sutra in regular script, alongside other works, is kept at the Ryokan no Sato Museum in Niigata; Seven-Character Quatrain, written in cursive script is kept at the Tokyo National Museum, and the inscription on the painting Hanshan and Shide, written in cursive script is kept at Ryokan no Sato Museum, Niigata.