Artwork

'JOY: In joy lie the seeds of sufferings; in sufferings lie the seeds of joy (RAKU: Raku wa kū no tane; Kū wa raku no tane)'

'JOY: In joy lie the seeds of sufferings; in sufferings lie the seeds of joy (RAKU: Raku wa kū no tane; Kū wa raku no tane)' is an unspecified painting by the Joseon dynasty painting artist Hakuin Ekaku. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1760 by the Japanese painter Hakuin Ekaku, this work bears the title that juxtaposes joy and suffering as reciprocal seeds. The painting is part of the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it is displayed among other Edo‑period pieces.

Subject & Meaning

The inscription pairs the Japanese terms raku (joy) and kū (suffering), suggesting a philosophical reflection on the interdependence of pleasure and pain. By presenting the two states as mutually originating, the composition invites contemplation of Buddhist notions of impermanence and the cyclical nature of experience.

Technique & Style

Executed in the ink‑and‑color painting tradition of mid‑18th‑century Japan, the work combines bold brushwork with delicate washes. Hakuin Ekaku’s characteristic use of expressive line and subtle tonal variation conveys both the vigor of joy and the quietude of suffering within a single visual field.

History & Provenance

After its creation in the late Edo period, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Its documented provenance traces a path from Japan to the United States, reflecting the broader movement of Japanese art into Western institutions during the 20th century.