As part of traditional Zen training, monks regularly leave their monastaries in groups to beg in nearby cities and towns. They chant "Ho-u" to announce their presence, giving people the opportunity to make donations of money or rice. This practice is known as takuhatsu.

Takuhatsu reminds the monks that all life is interdependent. Both donor and donee accrue merit: the householders for being generous, the trainee monks for learning to gratefully receive whatever is put in their bowls.

Lines of begging monks is one of the most beloved zenga subjects, popularized by Nantembo (1839–1925). He and his disciples frequently painted this theme. Nantembo also brushed poetic inscriptions on paintings of monks by the nun Gyokuren, his contemporary.

Before Nantembo, paintings of this subject were quite rare. We know of only three that predate Nantembo: two by Kogan (1747–1821) and one by Butsuro Eisen (1819–1891).

 

 

Kogan (1747–1841) "Pair of Begging Monks"			Kogan (1747–1841) "Single Line of Begging Monks"