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

Mokuan Shûyu (1318-73) was an outstanding disciple of Musô Soseki. He was the chief priest of Tôji-ji Temple, Kyoto, for many years and is known to have had Ashikaga Yoshiakira and Rokkaku Ujiyori among his notable devotees. A month before his passing he wrote the words on this scroll at the request of his disciple-attendant Chûshin. The calligraphy is in a free-flowing style, which is typical of yuige (a poetic passage written by a high-ranked Zen priest before his death to leave for his disciples). As this work clearly shows, at that time adding a holy passage to one’s own portrait helped to attest that one’s teaching has been handed down to the next generation.