Paired Illustrateds of the Life of Zen Master Dogen 1 Overall view

This is an illustrated biography of the life of Dōgen (1200–1253), who introduced the Sōtō sect of Zen to Japan. Various biographies of Dōgen have been written throughout history. In the late Edo period (1603–1867), illustrated biographies such as Teiho Kenzeiki Zue and Eihei Kōso Gyōjōki were published to make his life accessible to the general public. The appearance of these illustrated works was closely tied to the 550th anniversary of Dōgen’s death (1802). These hanging scrolls, which depicted his life, allowed his story to be shared in front of large audiences and played a major role in popularizing his biography among monks and parishioners of the sect.

This illustrated biography consists of two volumes of finely crafted Gyōjōzu painted in ink on silk. The first volume primarily depicts Dōgen’s genealogy, from his birth in Shōji 2 (1200) to the moment he received the seal of his master, Ju-ching, at Mt. Tiantai in Antei 1 (1227). It also includes the last night before his return to Japan, when he copied the Hekiganshū (Blue Cliff Record) in one night with the help of Hakusan Gongen. The second volume depicts his return to Japan, accompanied by Shōhō Shichirō Daigon Shuri Bodhisattva, and continues until his death in Kenchō 5 (1253). The final scene shows Dōgen’s mausoleum (Jōyōden) at Eiheiji Temple.

This illustrated biography, a Gyōjōzu of Dōgen’s movements, was passed down to Ryūunji Temple (Awara City, Fukui Prefecture) and donated by a parishioner in Kaei 6 (1853). It was painted by the Kyoto-based artist Murai Hidetaka and crafted by Muroya Kyūbē of Mikuni (Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture), a Hyōgushi who made the hanging scrolls, with exquisite brushwork on silk.