Ink Drawing of Śākyamuni Descending from the Mountain

Jakushitsu Kenkō (1753-1833) was a Zen monk of the Sōtō sect in the late Edo period. He was called Hyōko Dōjin. After traveling to various temples, he succeeded to the Dharma of Kaigai Ryōten of Shōzanji Temple in Nagato. He served as the 20th and 24th resident priest of Myōseiji and Kōzanji Temples in Nagato, the 17th resident priest of Gōtokuji Temple in Musashi, and the 19th resident priest of Seiryōji Temple in Ōmi Province. He also founded Tenneiji Temple in Ōmi Province.

He was a younger disciple of Zuikō Chingyū. In contrast to Chingyū’s unconventional and free personality, he is said to have had a stern zen style. He was one of the representative painters of the late Edo period, specializing in Buddhist and Ancestral virtues paintings, and left many poems and paintings. He was also well versed in the Precepts and devoted himself to understanding not only Buddhist monks but also lay people.
“Śākyamuni Descending from the Mountain” depicts the descent of the Buddha.