Advice to Attendant Zhang

CHINA; Southern Song dynasty

This calligraphic scroll contains Dharma words that Chan Master Mi’an Xianjie wrote for his attendant, Zhang. The piece describes the Chan way to enlightenment, in which one delves deep into a mind state that is unaffected and unmoved by both good and evil. Touched by Zhang’s decision to seek the Dharma for humankind, Mi’an created this scroll as a gift to him, though it is often regarded as a certificate of recognition. This work was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1951.
The calligraphic works of Mi’an Xianjie, who is known as Mittan Kanketsu in Japan, are highly regarded by practitioners of the Japanese tea ceremony. The scroll is exhibited in Ryokoin Temple in Kyoto, where there is a “Mittan Tea Room” for visitors to appreciate the work. Brushstrokes observed in the calligraphy appear natural and uninhibited, with a simple charm. Considered one of Mi’an’s masterpiece, it reflects his maturity in the art of calligraphy.
Mi’an Xianjie was a Chan master of the Yanqi branch of the Linji school of Buddhism. Born in Fuqing, Fuzhou (present day Fujian) during the Song dynasty (960–1279), he renounced at the age of 17. Mi’an visited Chan masters all over China in his search for realization, spending time at various Buddhist sites such as Jingshan, Lingyin, and Tiantong. On his path, he spread the teachings of Linji school.