Certificate of Attainment

CHINA; Southern Song dynasty

This piece is a certification of attainment written by Chan Master Wuzhun Shifan for his Japanese disciple, Enni Ben’en, when he traveled to China to study and seek the Dharma. As stated at the end of the work, “Master Enni visited hundreds of cities to seek wisdom and realization, and subsequently decided to share his personal experiences of this major event. I write this so as to indicate the occasion.” The calligraphy was written rapidly as observed in the occasional dry stroke. There is ample space between lines, and characters are well-organized and visually connected with implicit links. The natural and broad brushstrokes in running script express the calligrapher’s free and easy style. The piece was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1952.
Wuzhun Shifan was a eminent master in the Linji school of Chan Buddhism during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Wuxue Zuyuan, who was invited to Japan to propagate Buddhism, was among his followers.