Late 17th - early 18th century

Three Poems

Hyakusetsu Genyō

Japanese, 1668 - 1749

One of the early major Obaku monks born in Japan, Hyakusetsu studied poetry, painting and tea ceremony in Kyoto, as well as Rinzai Zen Buddhism. He was well-respected among the aristocratic circles of Kyoto, as a leader in both religious and in cultural circles. He founded a new temple, Hozoji in Western Kyoto in 1733.

Hyakusetsu's calligraphy is characterized by strong contrasts between wet and dry brushwork. This triptych of scrolls is an homage to his spiritual roots in Rinzai Buddhism and his teacher, Hyakuju.