Kakemono Zen Calligraphy “Mu” with the Phrase Honrai muichimotsu

The character Mu, nothing, takes up almost the entire width: written in a few heavy strokes that fray dryly at the edges and leave the paper visible. Right beside it, in a light cursive script, stands the phrase Honrai muichimotsu – from the very beginning, not a single thing exists. It is attributed to the Sixth Patriarch of Zen and is among the most frequently written sayings for the tea room.

The signature on the left edge names the writer as daisōjō of Kōyasan Shingon, that is, holding the highest priestly rank of this school, and closes with the name Kōzui; two seals and a head seal confirm it. The name points to Kubo Kōzui, a Shingon cleric associated with the temple Kōryū-ji in Kōbe. That a Shingon priest writes one of the core sayings of Zen shows how far these words reach beyond the boundaries of the schools.

This horizontal piece on paper dates from the Shōwa period and measures 60 × 132 cm. Mounted in gold-colored brocade and rosé-gray silk, with black wooden jikusaki and an inscribed wooden box, it is suited as a chagake as well as for a plain wall where a single character is enough.