Sengai

Sengai Gibon (Japanese仙 崖 义 梵; * 1750, † 1837) was a Japanese monk of the Rinzai shū.

He was known for a controversial teachings and writings, and also for his carefree Sumi -e painting.

Life

After he had spent half his life in Nagata near Yokohama, he withdrew to the Shofuku -ji, the first Zen temple in Japan, where he spent the rest of his life.

Teaching

Although the Rinzai Shuu was especially known for its teachings are difficult to understand, Sengai tried to make them available to the public.

In the 20th century, especially Idemitsu Sazo collected his works and made them in his museum, the Idemitsu Museum of Art, open to the public.

Circle, triangle and square

One of his most famous paintings shows a circle, a square and a triangle ( what the Japanese usually with "right", "half - right" and " wrong " link ).

This painting was titled " Universe" (universe), as they translated it into English.