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Hotei, late 1400s. Creator: Jonan Etetsu (Japanese, 1444-1507)
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Hotei, late 1400s. Creator: Jonan Etetsu (Japanese, 1444-1507)
Hotei, late 1400s. The Zen monk Jonan Etetsu is recorded as the 183rd abbot of To fuku-ji temple in the eastern hills of Kyoto, one of the earliest and most influential Zen institutions in medieval Japan. Otherwise, the only biographical information known to date has been gleaned from a few inscriptions on paintings documenting his friendship with another eminent monk, Ryo an Keigo (1425-1514), and two paintings bearing Jonans own poetic inscriptions. This image of Hotei (Chinese: Budai), a legendary, 10th-century Chan (Zen) monk, is one of those paintings. In Japan the image of the mirthful, pot-bellied Hotei enjoyed great popularity from the 14th century onward. Zen literature and popular folklore merged to create a storehouse of attractive fiction concerning this delightful characters worldly adventures as a kind of itinerant Santa Claus and more symbolically as the future Buddha, Miroku, in disguise. For the Japanese, Hotei came to represent an unfettered path to spiritual enlightenment. The identity of the artist of this painting is unknown, although it may have been Etetsu, who attained a high rank within the 15th-century Zen community
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Media ID 19628851
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
1392 1573 Hanging Scroll Ink On Paper Muromachi Period
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This print showcases a painting of Hotei, created by the Zen monk Jonan Etetsu in the late 1400s. Jonan Etetsu was renowned as the 183rd abbot of To fuku-ji temple, an influential Zen institution nestled in the eastern hills of Kyoto during medieval Japan. While limited biographical information about him exists, his friendship with another esteemed monk named Ryo an Keigo is documented through inscriptions on paintings. Hotei, also known as Budai in Chinese, was a legendary Chan (Zen) monk from the 10th century. In Japan, Hotei's image gained immense popularity starting from the 14th century onwards. The cheerful and pot-bellied figure became synonymous with joy and contentment for many Japanese people. Through a fusion of Zen literature and folklore, Hotei's character evolved into that of an itinerant Santa Claus-like figure who embarked on worldly adventures. Symbolically, he was also seen as Miroku, the future Buddha in disguise. For the Japanese audience, Hotei represented a path to spiritual enlightenment free from constraints or limitations. This particular painting captures his essence beautifully but unfortunately lacks information about its artist's identity. It is speculated that Jonan Etetsu himself may have been responsible for this masterpiece since he held a prominent position within the Zen community during the 15th century. This remarkable print allows us to appreciate both Jonan Etetsu's skillful brushwork and Hotei's enduring significance in Japanese culture as a symbol of boundless spiritual awakening.
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