Letter by Zhongfeng Mingben
- Person
-
作者Zhongfeng Mingben
- Date
-
制作年 Yuan dynasty (13th century)
- Title
- チュウホウミョウホンヒツセキトク
- Measurements
- 34.3×55.5
- Materials, techniques and shape
- Ink on paper
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
- Ref. number
- AW-CEN-000182-0000
- License
- CC BY Images license
- Creditline
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Keio University (Century Akao Collection)
- URL
- Classification
- Art
- AI Tagging
- Brown Handwriting Rectangle Font Tints and shades
Zhongfeng Mingben was one of the representative Zen priests of the Yuan Dynasty who originally hailed from Qian Tang in Zhejiang Province in China. Although considered an heir to the teachings of the Reverend Gaofeng Yuanmiao (Jp. Koho Genmyo, 1238-95), Zhongfeng never settled down. Instead, he was a wanderer, sometimes living on a boat, sometimes in a Buddhist hut, calling himself by the pseudonym meaning ‘an illusory resident’. Many Japanese novice priests traveled to Yuan China and they brought back Zhongfeng’s calligraphy. The characteristic style attained by releasing force at the start and end of each brush stroke creates a unique bambooleaf-like impression. This characteristic style made Zhongfeng’s works, often called ‘Zhongfeng’s bamboo leaves’, much sought-after pieces among chanoyu (tea ceremony) devotees in Japan. The calligraphed letter shown here is addressed to a government officer. At the beginning of the letter, Zhongfeng thanks the officer for a gift and then congratulates him upon moving into a new home. The letter goes on to preach the importance of administration without fear or favor, citing the life lived by Pang Jushi of ancient Tang Dynasty. (Pang Jushi was a priest who preferred to live as a layman and is often referred to as the Layman Pang.) Zhongfeng states that politicians should strive to achieve the most difficult tasks, without resorting to support or contributions.
八月廿三日明本謹書霊室副使翰相閤下明本昨因便試具状聊伸旋山之由政以軽瀆負媿而僧通偕郁居士至捧出翰墨及珍貺多品益見法愛之栄領外不勝慚感就審栄迁新宅瑞慶駢臻且未克尺箋致賀仰惟閤下心存道要識達塵寰見聞知覚迥然超詣但莫知対違順境不為愛憎看津而能一貫否践履之実要在于此倘能致力於其中則久久殊勝政不待捐界資直造龐老之轍為不難矣茲因人旋扶憊函具此以復餘懐尚需嗣免禁丐道照不具明本謹書奉復令兄実梁提挙前不及別状坐間乞引下誠乃幸
中峰明本(ちゅうほうみんぽん)(1263-1323)は中国元代の禅僧。生涯大寺の住持にはならず、天目山(浙江省)に幻住庵という庵を構え弟子を育てた。「笹っ葉中峰」とあだ名される独特の書風で知られる。
本作品は、庵のある地域の役人から手紙と贈り物があったことへのお礼を兼ねて、禅の教えを説いたもの。
「常盤山文庫×慶應義塾 臥遊─時空をかける禅のまなざし」展(2023.10 慶應義塾ミュージアム・コモンズ)図録 掲載
八月二十三日、明本は謹んで霊室様にお手紙を差し上げます。昨日、ずうずうしくもお手紙で帰山を知らせたところ、僧通が郁居士とともに来て、彼らからお返事と素晴らしい贈り物を受け取り、仏法を大事になさっていることに感激しました。新居に移られたとのこと、お祝い事が重なったのにもかかわらず、まだ祝賀の手紙を出していませんでした。あなた様を拝見しますと、仏道の肝要を心得、俗世を遠ざけ、全て見ること聞くこと凡人とは隔絶していますが、まだ順境にも逆境にも愛憎を超えた平常心で向かい合い、肝心のところを見て揺らがない、というところまでは至っていないのではないでしょうか。そこに努力することができれば、大変素晴らし
いことです。寄進などせずとも、(出家せず俗人のままに悟った)龐居士(ほうこじ)の境地に達するのはたやすいでしょう。そちらへ戻る人に託して、病を押してふたたび筆を取りました。またお便り申し上げます。なお、お兄様へのお返事は改めてお出ししませんので、これをお見せ下されば幸いです。
「常盤山文庫×慶應義塾 臥遊─時空をかける禅のまなざし」展(2023.10 慶應義塾ミュージアム・コモンズ)図録 掲載
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- Letter by Zhongfeng Mingben
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Quantity 1幅
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