Eiheiji Temple: Advice on Meditation Methods

JAPAN, Fukui, Yoshida; Kamakura period

This scroll, written by Zen Master Dogen upon his return to Japan, expounds the importance of meditation and includes instructions on specific methods for practice. This piece was listed as a National Treasure in 1952.
The characters are evenly spaced and rendered with straight and powerful brushstrokes casting implicit links, with the exception of only a few strokes that have actually merged together. An air of solemnity and rigor permeates the work. The calligraphic style imparts the influence of Huang Tingjian, but Dogen’s unique and personal style commands the most attention.
Original known as Minamoto, Dogen was the founding patriarch of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism during the Kamakura period (1185–1333). He went to China in 1223 to study the Dharma. He established Eiheiji Temple after returning to Japan in 1227, and worked to spread the teachings of the Soto school, in addition to advocating the practice of strict meditation.