Calligraphy of Two Five-character Lines (南辰驚起漸)

Mumon Jakutan (1683-1757) was a Sōtō Zen monk of the mid-Edo period. He succeeded to the Dharma of Mutoku Ryōgo. He lived at Kakudenji Temple in Ōmi Province, Zuiganji Temple in Iwami, and other temples, and became the 32nd resident priest of Taineiji Temple in Nagato in Kan’en 1 (1748). He retired from Taineiji Temple in Hōreki 3 (1753), and thereafter, he preached around Japan at the invitation of various temples.

This document was written in his later years after he retired from Taineiji Temple in Hōreki 3 (1753). Taineiji Temple was founded by Sekioku Sinryō (1345-1423), and was called “Saikai Daiichi no Hōjō” and “Nishi no Kōyasan (that means, “one of the Temples turning wheel of the law most worshipfully in western region”).” It is also the final resting place of the Ōuchi clan, Sengoku Daimyō (Japanese military lord) of the Sengoku period. It is also known as “Tō (east) Rozan (Mount Lu)” because of its vast and scenic beauty and has scenic spots known as the ten scenic spots of Tō Rozan.