Exhibition . Sacred Symbols

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Daruma Pilgrims Gallery

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Sacred Symbols in Profane Japan
Exhibition March 20, 2010—March 27, 2010

Scholten Japanese Art and Ryo Iida Asian Art
are pleased to announce our eleventh collaborative project: Sacred Symbols in Profane Japan, an exhibition of paintings and religious objects of devotion from the Kamakura period (14th century) to the Late Edo period (19th century).

One of the highlights of the show is a
painting of the monk Daruma by Ogawa Haritsu
(Ritsuo 1663-1747)
which is inscribed with a poem about Daruma by Kozan Garyu (1718-1792),
a monk of Koshoji-Temple in Uji. Ritsuo was a very well-known (and sought-after) painting, lacquer and metalwork artist who studied with both the Kano and Tosa schools.

The story of Bodhidharma (popularly known as Daruma), the early 5th century Southern Indian prince turned monk and his extreme austerity (nine years of gazing at wall in meditation) is widely known among Japanese. Although his role in transmitting Zen Buddhism to China (and subsequently Japan) is revered, the somewhat ill-tempered monk is also regarded as a talisman of good luck in Japan.

In this painting by Ritsuo, Daruma is depicted with a dark complexion and scruffy facial hair which identify him as both foreign and an ascetic, while his large eyes and gruff expression are typical of Japanese renderings of the beloved subject.

source : www.artinfo.com/


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おがわはりつ【小川破笠】
Ritsuo 笠翁 ("Old Man Ritsu")

Ogawa Haritsu painted

Matsuo Basho 「松尾芭蕉肖像」　


source : www.wul.waseda.ac.jp

Haritsu was born in Ise and later went to Edo, where he studied haiku with Matsuo Basho. This is a precious document of the real Basho.



. Ogawa Haritsu and Haiku 　


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Daruma Pilgrims in Japan

O-Fudo Sama Gallery

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