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Torei Enji enso

12 March, 2008 (05:00) | japan, paintings, premodern-modern | By: xensen

zen circle by torei enji (1721-1792)

This enso is by Torei Enji (1721-1792), who excelled at the Zen circle. Torei began this one by pressing his brush down hard at the lower left and swiftly continuing around the circle while lifting the brush.

The calligraphy says “In heaven and on the earth, I alone am worthy of honor,” lines attributed at birth to the historical Buddha.

Yoko Woodson, curator of Japanese art at the Asian Art Museum, thinks that the curious smudgy echo of the enso at the lower left represents a shell.

Of interest

  • Torei Enji enso
    Here's another enso, or Zen circle, by Torei Enji (1721-1792). Compare this to the Torei enso posted 12 March. Here his b...
  • Kanjuro Shibata enso
    Form is void and void is form. -- The Heart Sutra Let's have a look at some Zen circles, or ensos. A symbol of wholene...
  • Hakuin enso and Daruma
    Here's a delightful enson by the Rinzai Zen master Hakuin Ekaku Zenji (1686-1769). Unassuming and unaffected yet not at ...

« Kanjuro Shibata enso
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Comments

Pingback from 7junipers.com » Torei Enji enso
Time: March 20, 2008, 7:11 am

[...] another enso, or Zen circle, by Torei Enji (1721-1792). Compare this to the Torei enso posted 12 March. Here his brush is more unevenly inked, creating a range of grays, with the darkest areas either on [...]

Comment from Chris Miller
Time: March 20, 2008, 2:28 pm

This one is my favorite - it feels like a melting chunk of frozen snow slipping off a roof. (and the calligraphy to the side doesn’t hurt it one bit)

Comment from xensen
Time: March 20, 2008, 5:37 pm

Definitely a good one.

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