Ink Drawing of Śākyamuni Descending from the Mountain

Gekisui Tōryū (1684-1766) was a Sōtō Zen monk of the mid-Edo period. He succeeded to the Dharma of Chitō, Shōgen who is a disciple of Manzan Dōhaku, and became the 38th resident priest of Daijōji Temple in Kaga in Kan’en 3 (1750). He deepened his study of the precepts and Vinaya of Zen.

This Drawing depicts a thin, emaciated Śākyamuni descending a mountain after six years of ascetic practice. It is said that after six years of zazen, he finally attained enlightenment when the morning star was shining. This painting is known as “Śākyamuni Descending the Mountain after Asceticism,” and is one of the favorite subjects in Zen painting. In Japanese Zen Buddhism, the day of Śākyamuni’s enlightenment (Bodhi) is designated as December 8, and a Buddhist memorial service called “Bodhi Day” is held on that day. It is one of the three Buddhist memorial services, along with Birth of the Buddha (April 8) and Parinirvana Day (February 15).

The inscription indicates that the inscription is by Gekisui, but the painter is unknown. The inscription is read from the left side of the painting as the Śākyamuni Buddha faces it.