The Zen master Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) is best known as the founder of the modern Japanese Rinzai Zen tradition, but he was also a man of extraordinary powers of artistic expression. During his lifetime he produced not only a large body of written work, but also a vast number of Zen paintings and suiboku calligraphies.

On November 4, 2010, the Japan Society in New York will host a symposium on Hakuin's art, focusing on a newly discovered painting of the bodhisattva Kannon (Avalokitesvara).

Speakers

Katsuhiro Yoshizawa
Professor of Zen Studies,
Hanazono University, IRIZ

Yuji Yamashita
Professor of Japanese Art History
Meiji Gakuin University

Thomas Kirchner
Associate Researcher in Zen Studies
Hanazono University, IRIZ

Time schedule

6:30〜7:10pm
Prof. Yoshizawa’s lecture on a newly discovered Kannon (Avalokitesvara) painting.

This painting displays several interesting and quite unusual features. It is, first of all, almost unique in depicting Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, sitting in a chair and occupying herself with desk work. The presence of the large landscape painting in the background is also significant. In his lecture Prof. Yoshizawa discusses the possible messages that Hakuin was attempting to convey by painting Kannon in this way, and Hakuin’s views on the meaning of landscape art.

7:15〜8:15pm
Prof. Yoshizawa and Prof. Yamashita’s talk session on “Hakuin as a Zen monk, and Hakuin as a painter”

8:15〜8:30pm
Questions and Answers

Major support provided by International Research Institute for Zen Buddhism,Hanazono University and Asano Laboratories, Inc