Master Wuzhun Shifan

CHINA; Southern Song dynasty

This is a portrait of Wuzhun Shifan, a Chan Master who lived on Jingshan during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Enni Ben’en, who later became the founder of Tofukuji Temple in Japan, traveled to China and became a disciple of Master Wuzhun, and was said to have attained enlightenment under his tutelage. The inscription at the top, written by Wuzhun when he was 61 years old, dates the painting to 1238. It was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1952.
Wuzhun sits upright in a round-backed armchair, looking forward with an alert, clear-eyed gaze. He wears a patched monastic robe secured with a golden clasp and holds a disciplinary stick in his right hand. His monastic shoes are placed on a footrest below the chair, a common feature in such paintings.
The outstanding portraiture skills of Southern Song artists are reflected in this artwork. Fine lines and washed ink are used to depict contours in the face and give it a realistic appearance. Thick, flowing lines are used to portray the folds in the robe. Wuzhun’s facial hair and the patterns on his robe are particularly well detailed.