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Buddhist Aphorism


Suda Kokuta, Buddhist Aphorism, 1975, hanging scroll; ink on paper, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, © unknown, research required, 2011.87.2

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Details
Title

Buddhist Aphorism

Related Titles

original language: 書

Artist

Suda Kokuta (Japanese, 1906-1990)

Date

1975

Medium

hanging scroll; ink on paper

Dimensions (H x W x D)

painting: 36 3/4 x 16 7/8 in.; mounting: 62 x 17 3/4 in.

Inscriptions & Markings

text transcription: 輪廻業劫鬼獣狂畜 [Rinne gyôgô kijû kyôchiku (As the karmic wheel turns for aeons, A demon, beast, maniac or farm animal!)], ink, recto Transliteration (Translation): Rinne gyôgô kijû kyôchiku (As the karmic wheel turns for aeons, A demon, beast, maniac or farm animal!)

seal: undeciphered, lower left

signature: 剋, brush, lower left Transliteration (Translation): Koku (Koku) Language: Japanese

Collection Area

Asian Art

Category

Calligraphy

Object Type

hanging scroll

Culture

Japanese

Credit Line

Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles

Accession Number

2011.87.2

Copyright

© unknown, research required

Terms

Buddhism

calligraphy

hanging scrolls

ink

paper

Description

Suda Kokuta is a well-known modern painter who worked in oils. He idolized Van Gogh, and after failing four times to be admitted to Tokyo University of the Arts, he taught himself to paint. Over the course of his career he worked in both representational and abstract styles, always with feverish brushwork. In late life he turned increasingly to Zen for inspiration, as illustrated in this work of calligraphy. The text, as translated by Jonathan Chaves, reads,

!T!!T!As the karmic wheel turns for aeons, !T!!T!A demon, beast, maniac or farm animal!

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