Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi

Painting by an unidentified artist
Inscription by Muan Xingtao Chinese

Not on view

This arresting portrait depicts Yinyuan Longqi, the Chinese founder of the Ōbaku school of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Yinyuan (known as Ingen in Japan) was born and raised in China, but after the fall of the Ming, he left the chaos of dynastic transition for the relative safety of Japan. The veneration of colorful, iconic images of teachers runs counter to the conventional understanding of Zen life as austere and iconoclastic. Portraits such as this would have been displayed and venerated during important rites and ceremonies of the Buddhist calendar. The inscription is by Yinyuan’s direct disciple Muan Xingtao.

Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi, Painting by an unidentified artist , active late 17th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

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Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi, Painting by an unidentified artist , active late 17th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi, Painting by an unidentified artist , active late 17th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi, Painting by an unidentified artist , active late 17th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi, Painting by an unidentified artist , active late 17th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
Portrait of Yinyuan Longqi, Painting by an unidentified artist , active late 17th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

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