Ogawa Haritsu

Ogawa Haritsu
Ogawa Haritsu

Ogawa Haritsu, (Ritsuo, 1663-1747)

Daruma with inscription by Garyu Zenshi (1718-1792)

hanging scroll, and colors on paper; sealed Ritsuo at lower right; with poem inscribed above by the monk Garyu Zenshi (1718-1792), signed zen Kosho Garyu kyuhai san (former monk Garyu of the Koshoji Temple), with seals Kozan and Garyu, and sealed again at upper left corner, Kozan Shunso

painting 32 5/8 by 10 3/8 in., 83 by 26.5 cm
overall 60 1/4 by 12 5/8 in., 153 by 32 cm

Accompanied by lid of old storage box inscribed with painting description: Daruma, Ritsuo kore wo ga, Garyu Zenshi san (Daruma painting by Ritsuo, inscribed by Garyu Zenshi); and with another storage box inscribed on the lid exterior, Garyu Zenshi san, Ritsuo Daruma; and dated by an unidentified collector on the lid interior, kinoto-ushi, aki, jugatsu (cyclical date 'younger brother wood-[year of the] ox' [possibly 1865], autumn, 10th month) and signed Kandoku Katsudaijin dai.

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 and a beloved subject of a wide variety of Japanese decorative arts. This painting is a classic depiction of Daruma, the dark complexion and scruffy facial hair identify him as both foreign and an ascetic, while his large eyes and gruff expression are slightly irreverent of his stern legend.

The subject of the poem is Daruma, although he is not mentioned directly.

shorin reiza
gansho fuyo
chokushi muteki
kensei yusho

ii, seirai soi fu shaen
futakabu keikyu shosho

Seated amid woods
looking [towards the East]
searching for truth, yet no direction
truth may be revealed by looking into himself

To whom searching for enlightenment
Daruma's teachings [from the West] will not be interrupted
two young branches of redbud trees will thrive

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Haritsu box

kikumon

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site last updated
March 29, 2024

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