Six Persimmons

CHINA; Southern Song dynasty

This Chan painting was done by the Chan monk Muxi, a native of Shu (present day Sichuan). Muxi, also known by his Dharma name Fachang, lived in Changqing Temple in Hangzhou during the late Southern Song dynasty. He created distinctive paintings of a wide range of subjects including Buddhist figures, landscapes, and animals. Much of his work was taken to Japan and was widely appreciated, especially during the Muromachi period (1392–1573).
The six persimmons are painted against an empty background, alluding to the Buddhist concept of “form arising from emptiness.” Five of the persimmons form an uneven line. Two on the left are barely touching, while the two on the right overlap. A large black persimmon stands out in the center. The smallest one is alone below the others. Two pairs of the persimmons are similarly shaded, while the two remaining fruits have a unique tone. Each of the stems is painted differently with dark strokes and dots that resemble calligraphy. What appears at first to be an unremarkable image becomes highly enigmatic and profound upon further study, defying interpretation along traditional lines.