Who painted 禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi)?

禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi) was painted by Kenkō Shōkei in 16th century.

Where can I see 禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi)?

禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi)?

禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi) is associated with Nihonga.

Artwork

禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi)

Kenkō Shōkei , 1500

禅機（鳥窠道林・白居昜）|Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi) is an ink painting by the Nihonga artist Kenkō Shōkei. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Produced in Japan in 1500, it is a monochrome ink work on paper, characteristic of the ink-painting tradition associated with its creator, Kenkō Shōkei.

Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi) is executed in ink on paper and presented as a hanging scroll. The Metropolitan Museum of Art records its dimensions as 30.5 cm in height by 47.6 cm in width. The painting is classified within the museum's holdings as a religious work and depicts a man, consistent with its Zen Buddhist subject matter.

Produced in Japan in 1500, it is a monochrome ink work on paper, characteristic of the ink-painting tradition associated with its creator, Kenkō Shōkei.

History & Provenance

Created in 1500 in Japan, this hanging scroll titled Zen Encounter (Niaoke Daolin and Bai Juyi) was executed by the artist Kenkō Shōkei. The work, rendered in ink on paper, depicts a male figure within a religious context. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of their paintings holdings.

Overview

Created around the turn of the 16th century, this hanging scroll by the Japanese painter Kenkō Shōkei presents a quiet, contemplative scene rendered in ink on paper. The work belongs to the religious genre, illustrating a moment of serene dialogue between two figures within a natural landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features two seated men amid trees and rocks, their posture and interaction suggesting a calm exchange of thoughts. The setting evokes the Zen ideal of mindfulness and the value placed on simple, meditative encounters in nature.

Context

During the Muromachi period, Zen Buddhism heavily influenced visual arts, encouraging works that emphasized quiet reflection. This scroll aligns with that tradition, portraying a tranquil dialogue that mirrors the period’s spiritual and artistic preoccupations.