MOKURAI (1854–1930)

Mokurai was a greatly respected Zen teacher. He was born into a large family who lived on a small island off the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, and became a monk at the age of ten.  

Mokurai studied under several Zen masters before meeting Yuzen (1842–1918). After seven years of studying with Yuzen, Mokurai received the certificate of enlightenment from this teacher. 

For much of his life, Mokurai was associated with the major Kyoto temple Kennin-ji. He became the abbot of this temple at the age of thirty-nine, in 1892, and remained abbot there for almost thirty years. He had many friends and Zen students in the active and extensive artistic community of Kyoto.  

Mokurai, like Hakuin, stressed that Zen realization cannot be rushed—that students need to develop patience and discipline in order to transcend.  

Although Mokurai suffered from delicate health for most of his life, he lived to the age of seventy-seven. To learn more about his life and work, you might read The Art of 20th Century Zen by Audrey Seo with Stephen Addiss. 

 

PLEASE NOTE:  THE PAINTINGS BELOW HAVE BEEN SOLD
AND ARE FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY

 

 

"Enso"
by Mokurai

 

 

"Enso"
by Mokurai

 

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