Characters - Pinching Gautama’s Nose

CHINA; Ming dynasty

The verse “Pinching Gautama’s Nose” is a hypocrisy in Chan style that rebukes the Buddha and curses the patriarchs. Its aim was to eliminate the practitioner’s sense of attachment, even to his masters.
Chan Master Mu’an Xingtao studied Zhao Mengfu’s style of calligraphy, but later became renowned for his own vigorous calligraphic form. Alongside his teacher Master Yinyuan Longqi and his fellow disciple Jifei Ruyi, Mu’an was reputed as one of the Three Brushes of Obaku. He preferred to use a coarse brush to apply the flying white effect, which gave a boldness to his style, much in keeping with the spirit of Chan. The hollow lines, resulting from the dryness of his brush, in addition to his customary signature of “Mu’an of Obaku,” written in cursive script, comprise this distinctive work of calligraphy.
Mu’an Xingtao was born in Jinjiang, Fujian and joined the monastic order at the age of 19. He began studying under Master Yinyuan at the age of 34, later becoming his disciple. Mu’an went to Fukusaiji Temple in Nagasaki, Japan at the age of 45 under the invitation of Yinyuan. He was appointed to succeed Yinyuan as the abbot of Manpukuji Temple, where he greatly strengthened the Obaku school of Japanese Buddhism, becoming its second patriarch. Mu’an later expanded Manpukuji Temple and established ten other temples throughout Japan.