CHIYONO: Mugai Nyodai

02006-03-01 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

CHIYONO: Mugai Nyodai
This way and that way
I tried to keep the pail of water together,
hoping the weak bamboos
would never break
But suddenly the bottom fell out:
no more water
no more moon in the water
and emptiness in my hand!

Mugai Nyodai – Japan’s first female Zen Master (1223-1298)

monk2
Photo: INSTITUTE FOR MEDIEVAL JAPANESE STUDIES
In the thirteenth century an extraordinarily realistic portrait statue (chinso chokoku) was carved depicting Abbess Mugai Nyodai in her seventies. Chinso statues are a category of remarkably realistic life-sized statues of the seated figures of historical Zen masters made as substitutes for the living person to convey the essence of the Zen master to his disciples after his death. This statue, the only thirteenth-century portrait statue of a female Zen master extant.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Archives

Images

Concert Dates

Fri, May 5 2023 in Sedona AZ
@ Sound Bites

Sat, May 6 2023 in Sedona AZ
@ Sound Bites

Sun, May 7 2023 in Phoenix AZ
@ MIM

Mon, May 8 2023 in Tucson AZ
@ Rialto Theater

Wed, May 10 2023 in Portland OR
@ Alberta Rose Theater

Thu, May 11 2023 in Seattle WA
@ Jazz Alley

Fri, May 12 2023 in Seattle WA
@ Jazz Alley

Sat, May 13 2023 in Seattle WA
@ Jazz Alley

Social

@Mastodon (the Un-Twitter)