Calligraphy of the Character "Ju" (Longevity)

Calligraphy of the Character "Ju" (Longevity) with Poem by Yinyuan Longqi (1592-1673)

This poem is included in Yinyuan’s poetry collection, “Sanraishu (ed. Yinyuan, published in 1660).” Yinyuan Longqi, a Zen monk who had trained at Huangbo-shan, opened a training hall and was waiting for a true person with whom he could eat Michitose-no-momo (the legendary fruit) on the day this fruit bear. This poem is thought to be an expression of his feelings when he was to preach to the Japanese Zen monks.

The “Calligraphy of the Character “Ju” (Longevity)” was written in Kanbun 11 (1671) by Yinyuan in celebration of his 80th birthday. It is inscribed “寿 (Ju)” in large letters and contains a couplet of seven words. “松堂 (Shōdō)” refers to the Shōindō, where Yinyuan retreated.