Page 100 - Bonhams Fine Japanese Art London Nov. 2019

VARIOUS PROPERTIES

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HAKUIN EKAKU (1685-1768)
HISHAKU (WATER LADLE)
Edo period (1615-1868), mid-18th century
Kakejiku (hanging scroll), ink on paper in silk mounts, depicting
a hishaku (water ladle for use in the tea ceremony) in its stand,
inscribed above Kannetsu no jigoku o kayou chabishaku mo kokoro
nakereba kurusihimi nashi (for translation see below), sealed above the
inscription Ryutoku senten, sealed at the end Hakuin and Ekaku;
with a lacquered wood storage box.
Overall: 184.5cm x 45.4cm (72 5/8in x 33 5/8in);
image: 95.8cm × 27.6cm (37¾in × 10 7/8in). (2).
£5,000 - 6,000
JPY660,000 - 790,000
US$6,200 - 7,400
The meaning of the inscription (a favourite of Hakuin’s) is ‘Even a tea-
ceremony ladle, subjected to the hells of heat and frost, will suffer
nothing so long as its heart is unattached’. This sentiment chimes well
with Hakuin’s wider teaching; as a Zen master he insisted that zazen
meditaton should be conducted in a spirit of total concentration and
absolute freedom from distraction.

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