id: 90092 accession number: 2015.511 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2015.511 updated: 2022-11-18 10:00:12.090000 Reflections of Priest Foyen, 15th century. Ikkyū Sōjun (Japanese, 1394–1481). Hanging scroll, ink on paper; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift from the Collection of George Gund III 2015.511 title: Reflections of Priest Foyen title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: 15th century creation date earliest: 1400 creation date latest: 1499 current location: creditline: Gift from the Collection of George Gund III copyright: --- culture: Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573) technique: hanging scroll, ink on paper department: Japanese Art collection: ASIAN - Hanging scroll type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS * Ikkyū Sōjun (Japanese, 1394–1481) - artist --- measurements: state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: signed: "Kido nanasei son, Ikkyūshi Sōjun sho (Written by Ikkyū Sōjun, the seventh generation of Kido) translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Ink Paintings and Ash-Glazed Ceramics: Medieval Calligraphy, Painting, and Ceramic Art from Japan and Korea opening date: 2000-03-19T00:00:00 Ink Paintings and Ash-Glazed Ceramics: Medieval Calligraphy, Painting, and Ceramic Art from Japan and Korea. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (March 19-May 28, 2000). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * CMA, 19 March-28 May, 2000: Ink Painting and Ash-Glazed Ceramics: Medieval Calligraphy, Painting, and Ceramic Art from Japan and Korea, no. 22-24 (repr.) --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: Left by his mother at a small Zen temple in Kyoto at the age of six, Ikkyu later drew on his early studies and experiences for his writings, which focused on his keen interest in the Chinese classics. Poetry in particular was a favorite subject and images from classical poetry or passages from favorite poems or commentaries frequently provided Ikkyu with the core ideas for his own work. A rare example of his calligraphy, this narrow scroll contains a verse in eight phrases, each comprising four characters. The whole verse is organized in three towering lines of brusque, emphatic calligraphy augmented by Ikkyu's signature-the two lines of running script in the lower left corner. The text refers to a passage included in the Chronicle of the Zen Sect that contains a cautionary reminder attributed to the legendary Chinese monk Foyen Qingyuan (1067-1120), long revered in Japan. The initial phrase begins: "Life is a mirage." --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.511/2015.511_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.511/2015.511_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.511/2015.511_full.tif