Search

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

About arrow_back

Admission for everyone is always free! Check here for current hours and more.

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

Collections arrow_back

The Johnson Museum holds more than 40,000 works in its collection from around the world.

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

Exhibitions arrow_back

Check out what’s on view this season at the Museum and look back through our history.

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

Events arrow_back

Free events for everyone, plus special programs for students, families, and more!

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

Learn arrow_back

The Johnson Museum actively contributes to the intellectual life of our campus and community.

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

Support arrow_back

Help the Johnson Museum continue its legacy by making a gift today.

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

Obaku Mokuan

(Japanese, 1611–1684)

Furyu ichi moji [Not establishing a word]

View All Works

Object Details

Artist

Obaku Mokuan

Date

17th century

Medium

Hanging scroll: ink on paper

Dimensions

50 3/4 × 19 3/8 inches (128.9 × 49.2 cm)

Credit Line

The George and Mary Rockwell Collection

Object
Number

2000.032.003

Known as one of the “Three Brushes of Obaku,” Mokuan, whose Chinese name is Mu-an, came from Fujian (…)

Known as one of the “Three Brushes of Obaku,” Mokuan, whose Chinese name is Mu-an, came from Fujian province, where he began his life as a Zen monk at the age of eighteen. Together with Ingen Ryuki (Yinyuan Longqi), another Chinese Zen master who traveled to Japan, they founded Manpuku-ji, near Kyoto, the main temple of the Obaku sect. Obaku is the most Chinese of the Japanese Zen Buddhist sects. After Ingen retired as head abbot, Mokuan became abbot of Manpuku-ji and thus the second patriarch of Obaku. Mokuan was especially admired for his bold, large-character calligraphy. The left scroll refers to the mind-to-mind transmission of the Zen spirit, which is beyond the range of words. The center scroll could also be interpreted, “After receiving enlightenment one sees clearly.”

Create an account

Please take a moment to fill your information to create your account.

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Save Artwork

Save the artwork in any of your exhibitions or create a new one.

You have not made any exhibitions.

Create New Exhibition

Create New Exhibition