Sengai: The Zen of Ink and Paper [Paperback]

Daisetz T. Suzuki (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1999

Gibbon Sengai (1750–1837) was known for his humor and unorthodox teaching style. A Zen master of the Rinzai school, he was also one of the most illustrious artists Japan has ever produced, known throughout the world for his calligraphies and paintings. Sengai went through years of hard monastery training before being elected abbot of Shofukuji, Japan's oldest Zen temple. Calligraphy and drawing became his primary modes of teaching and expression. Here are one hundred twenty-eight black-and-white reproductions of his work, selected and explained by the Zen scholar D. T. Suzuki. The commentary explains each piece of art, its context, and the Zen teaching it exemplifies. First appearing posthumously in 1971 (New York Graphic Society edition), Sengai is Dr. Suzuki's last published book—and it is said that he considered it to be the culmination of his work.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki (1870–1966) was one of the primary modern interpreters of Zen for the West. He is the author of many books, among them Manual of Zen Buddhism, Essays in Zen Buddhism, and Zen in Japanese Culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (November 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570624895
• ISBN-13: 978-1570624896
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,270,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sengai's drawings book review, February 20, 2001

By 

Fede "Federico" (Manhattan, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sengai: The Zen of Ink and Paper (Paperback)

For the people interested in Zen this book is an excellent way to learn about one of the most influential monks in Zen history. Sengai was not only a monk, but a great artist whose art was expressed through his drawings. And this book written by D.T. Suzuki, author of numerous books about Zen, is focused mainly in explaining the meaning behind some of the Senagi's drawings. A negative aspect about this book is that the quality of the ilustration's prints is almost like the one of a newspaper. I tought I would find the same quality as the drawing from the cover but it was a big disappointment. Still, through the bad prints, we can appreciate the sublime art of Sengai.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Divine Humor Guided His Hands, February 28, 2002

By 

Thomas Izaguirre "ratravarman" (Edgewater, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sengai: The Zen of Ink and Paper (Paperback)

This is an informal and accessible guide to Master Sengai's work, a man who in his study of Zen stumbled rather appropriately into the ink drawing art of sumi-e as a means of revealing for himself and others the essence of wisdom. It has been said that the secret of the Tao is so simple that if it were to suddenly become common knowledge, laughter would be heard everywhere. Looking at Sengai's art is to experience that truth and I recommend this as an antidote to the stifling austerity to which religious traditions are so often view as being caught up.