Return of the Fifth Patriarch

CHINA; Yuan dynasty

According to the Record of Training in the Forest, the Fifth Patriarch, Hongren, was a woodcutter who lived near Potoushan (Damaged Top Mountain) in his past life. He encountered the Fourth Patriarch, Daoxin, and asked to be his student, but his request was declined due to his old age. Hongren passed away and was reborn as the child of Zhou, a washerwoman. When he was born, she did not know who his father was and did not wish to keep him. Zhou threw the baby into a river, but he miraculously floated against the current. Amazed, Zhou retrieved the child. The young Hongren had an innate understanding of Buddhist teachings. One day he encountered Daoxin, and immediately impressed the Buddhist master with his wisdom. This painting depicts the meeting of Daoxin and the child Hongren. Daoxin, holding a staff, looks down at Hongren, who stands with his palms joined. Hongren’s mother Zhou is shown on the right.