“One Hundred Flowers of Spring”
Ryōkan Taigu’s calligraphic composition features just three Chinese characters—rendered in wild, hypercursive script—from a familiar Zen koan, a question posed to provoke contemplation toward enlightenment. As with all Zen koans, there is no immediately obvious answer, but in the process of breaking down the rational thought process, the possibility of spiritual enlightenment arises. The complete koan reads:
百花春至為誰開
When spring arrives, for whom
do the hundred flowers bloom?
百花春至為誰開
When spring arrives, for whom
do the hundred flowers bloom?
Artwork Details
- 良寛大愚筆 「百花春」
- Title: “One Hundred Flowers of Spring”
- Artist: Ryōkan Taigu (Japanese, 1758–1831)
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: early 19th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 17 1/16 × 9 1/2 in. (43.4 × 24.2 cm)
Overall with mounting: 48 7/16 × 32 7/16 in. (123 × 82.4 cm) - Classification: Calligraphy
- Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2024
- Object Number: 2024.412.14
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
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Ryōkan Taigu
early 19th century
Ryōkan Taigu
early 19th century
Ryōkan Taigu
early 19th century
Ryōkan Taigu
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