The Chinese Painter Muqi in Japanese Culture 

Discover the artist behind some of Zen’s most celebrated masterpieces in this special presentation by a curator of Chinese painting from the Kyoto National Museum.
No Chinese artist has been as admired in Japan and as deeply integrated into Japanese culture as Muqi (approx. 1210-after 1269). A Zen (Chinese: Chan) monk, Muqi infused his art with an evocative sense of spirituality, relinquishing formal representation and using expressive brushwork to capture intangible elements such as light and air. Introduced by monks returning from Buddhist studies in China, his ink paintings resonated profoundly with audiences in Japan, where they were revered not only within Zen temples but also among shoguns, daimyo lords, and other members of elite society. In The Heart of Zen, two iconic and beloved paintings attributed to Muqi are being shown in the United States for the first time courtesy of a partnership with Daitokuji Ryokoin Temple in Kyoto. This presentation will provide a glimpse into the world of this Southern Song dynasty painter whose enduring legacy is still felt to this day.
Japanese to English translation by Etsuko Kobata.