National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Hokkan Kyokan (1164 to 1246) was a successor of Settan Tokko who belonged to the Daie Soko school. Due to his secluded life at Hokkan in Hiraiho for ten years, he was commonly called Hokkan instead of his real name Keiso. After serving at various temples, he became the 37th chief priest of Jinzu Kokoji Temple, one of the five famous Zen temples in China, in his later years. Later in history, his book Hokkanshu was treasured as a classic of Zen literature and was also published in Japan as a Gozan version. Only a few of his calligraphy works currently exist. This is a geju (Buddhist teachings in the form of poetry) written when he visited Manbukkaku of Noninji Temple in Suzhou. This calligraphy features thin and stiff brushwork and exudes an atmosphere of outstanding refinement.