Ink Drawing of Avalokiteśvara on the Rock

This ink drawing of Avalokiteśvara was painted by Yiran Xingrong (1601-1668), with an inscription by Yinyuan Longqi (1592-1673). Yiran arrived in Nagasaki Prefecture in Kan’ei 18 (1641) as a medicine merchant. In Shōhō 1 (1644), he studied under Mozi Ruding (Jp. Mokusu Nyojō), the second resident priest of Kōfukuji Temple in Nagasaki Prefecture, and succeeded to the temple the following year. Yiran is praised for his role in facilitating Yinyuan’s visit to Japan. Originally, Yelan Xinggui, a disciple of Yinyuan, was supposed to come to Japan, but he was lost during his journey, prompting Yinyuan himself to be invited. Yiran sent four letters of invitation to Yinyuan, ultimately making his visit possible.

Yiran excelled at painting and was known as the ‘founder of Chinese-style painting,’ playing a significant role in introducing a new painting style during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In contrast to Kita Dōku, Genki, and others who specialized in paintings of successive Ōbaku patriarchs, Yiran focused on Buddhist and patriarchal paintings depicting Śākyamuni, Avalokiteśvara, Dharma, and other figures.

This work was painted in Kanbun 2 (1662) and bears an inscription by Yinyuan. Avalokiteśvara, seated on a rock in the sea, reflects the style of Muromachi suibokuga (ink painting), indicating Yiran’s study of traditional Japanese painting as well. Yinyuan’s inscription of Avalokiteśvara is included in “Fumon Goroku” and is also provided in “Kan’nonzuchō.”