Page 55 - Japanese Art Nov 9 2017 London

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HAKUIN EKAKU (1685–1768)
Iron Rod
Edo period (1615-1868), mid-18th century
Kakejiku (vertical hanging scroll), ink on paper
in silk mounts, depicting a massive tetsubo
(iron rod), its twisted handle with an inscription
to either side Kono waro osoreruru hito wa
gokuraku e 此わろ恐るる人は極楽へ (Those
who fear this guy will go to paradise), sealed
Kokan’i 顧鑑咦, Hakuin 白隠 and Ekaku 慧鶴;
with a plain wood storage box.
Overall: 213cm x 45cm (83¾in x 17¾in);
image: 126cm x 27cm (49 5/8in x 10 5/8in). (2).

£25,000 - 30,000
JPY3,700,000 - 4,400,000
US$33,000 - 40,000

For a Hakuin painting of an iron rod with the
same inscription, see Audrey Yoshiko Seo and
Stephen Addiss, The Sound of One Hand:
Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master
Hakuin, Boston, Shambhala Publications,
2010, pl.5.5. The tetsubo (iron rod) is
traditionally associated with the demons that
torment sinners in the realms of hell. Hakuin’s
iron rods fill the vertical composition with richly
applied ink moving down from the solid ring at
the top through the sturdy vertical portion of
the rod into a thickly twisted area.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot FINE JAPANESE ART | 53
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.