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Keijû Reikyô (1881-1935)
Zenga
Tama-wa dei chû-ni mukatte isagiyoku - Even in the mud a jewel doesn't get dirty
Signed: Hôkô
Seals: Keishû, Hôkô-kutsu shu & Takura do (yakko)(top)
Technique: sumi on paper 135 x 32,5
Date: ca. 1930
Mounting: blue silk 194,5 x 35,1
Box: Signed
Condition: Fine

The inscription reads: 玉向泥中潔「松經雪後貞」
Tama-wa dei chû-ni mukatte isagiyoku, [matsu-wa setsugo-o hete tei nari.]

“Even in the mud a jewel doesn't get dirty [and even snow doesn’t change the pine’s shape]”
The absolute truth never changes, no matter what the circumstances. (Lewis 10-245)

Hôkôkutsu, Keijû, was head abbott of the Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple in Kyoto.

He was born in Wakayama Ken. In 1892 he went to Saishô-ji (Wakayama) and in 1889 to Tenryû-ji to study. As a soldier he was forced to fight the Russians from 1901-1906 after which he returned to the Tenryû-ji again, which since 1906 was related with the Daitoku-ji. In 1914 went to Rokuon-ji (= Kinkaku-ji) and became pupil of Dokuzan Gengi (1869-1938) and received his name Hôkôkutsu. He then changed his school to Rinzai-zen to become head abbott in 1922 to succeed Dokuzan and two years later first master of instruction. This office he held until 1933 when he had to leave because of illness and became administrative director of the Shôkoku-ji school (Rinzai sect).
In 1926 he went to China for his studies in Buddhism and wrote a number oof Buddhist writings. A gifted calligrapher and painter in the style of his teacher Dokuzan.

Reference:
Moog p.239-240
Armbruster (Götze) pp. 87-90

Price: ON REQUEST