Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo

CHINA; Southern Song dynasty

This painting illustrates the early life of Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of the Chan school. To earn a living for himself and his mother, he would cut and deliver firewood. The red seal imprint of the artist, Liang Kai, is in the lower left corner. Liang was a painter-in-attendance of the Imperial Painting Academy between 1201 and 1204 of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). He was particularly skilled at depicting human figures in his distinct “jianbi” style of abbreviated, unrestrained brushstrokes. This representational work was listed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1949.
Huineng wears a singlet, trousers, and straw shoes. He squats on the ground, holding a long stick of bamboo and preparing to chop it with a knife. The clothing and limbs are outlined with sparse strokes, giving Huineng a rough but lively appearance. Fine lines are used to depict the hair, adding detail to the image. On the left, rapid “flying white” brushstrokes of light ink evoke a mountain.