c. 1638
Chuanzi and Jiashan
Shōkadō ShōjōJapanese, 1584 - 1639
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Zen philosophy teaches that one should attain enlightenment by intuitive and experiential means instead of focusing on scriptural study. Through meditation and the contemplation of seemingly paradoxical questions, Zen masters transmitted their doctrine to their disciples. This scroll depicts a Zen master disguised as a humble ferryman. One day Chia-shan, the chief monk of an important monastery, boarded the ferry, and after an exchange of questions and answers, the ferryman took his oar and pushed Chia-shan into the river. At that instant, Chia-shan attained enlightenment.
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