| ○△□ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Sengai |
| Year | Between c. 1819–1828 |
| Medium | Ink on washi |
| Dimensions | 28.4 cm × 48.1 cm (11.2 in × 18.9 in) |
| Location | Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo |
Marusankakushikaku, also known as The Universe in English and as ○△□ referencing its rakkan, is a zenga by Sengai, speculated to be made between 1819 and 1828. The work is currently located in Idemitsu Museum of Arts. It is called "he most mysterious work left by Sengai" as the work can be taken in many ways due to its simplicity.
Description
The artwork consists of three shapes, "○" (circle), "△" (triangle), "□" (square), drawn with ink. The square on the left is drawn in the lightest color, while the circle on the right is drawn in the darkest color. The work is 28.4 cm (11.2 in) tall, and is 48.1 cm (18.9 in) wide.
On the left of the work, the rakkan [ja] of Sengai and the phrase Fusō saisho zenkutsu (扶桑最初禅窟) are written. The letters mention the Shofuku-ji in Hakata, where Sengai was the chief priest. Works by Sengai usually has a poem with it, which is important when analyzing his works, although Marusankakushikaku lacks one.
The work is estimated to be made somewhere between 1819 and 1828 as the work has a stamp Sengai used in his 70s. The work is currently located in Idemitsu Museum of Arts in Tokyo.
Name
The work is usually called "○△□", due to the rakkan being located on the left. However, it is speculated that the shapes were drawn from the left due to the darkness of the ink, which raised concerns whether the work should be called "○△□" due to some people wanting to call the work "□△○" to respect the order of shapes. The work is called "The Universe" in English due to one of the main analysis of the work by D. T. Suzuki interpreting the subject of it as space from Sengai's view.
Analysis
References
- "○△□｜収蔵品の紹介「出光コレクション」｜出光美術館". idemitsu-museum.or.jp. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- 衛藤吉則、石上敏、村中哲夫 (2004). 西日本人物誌8：仙厓. 西日本新聞社. p. 13.
- "仙厓義梵《○△□》「わかる」がわかるか──「中山喜一朗」：アート・アーカイブ探求｜美術館・アート情報 artscape". 美術館・アート情報 artscape (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- 八波浩一 2015, pp. 140–146. sfn error: no target: CITEREF八波浩一2015 (help)
- 八波, pp. 147. sfn error: no target: CITEREF八波 (help)
- Suzuki, pp. 38. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSuzuki (help)
Bibliography
- Suzuki, Daisetsu (19 March 2004). 仙厓の書画 [Works of Sengai] (in Japanese). Iwanami Shoten, Publishers. ISBN 9784000236423.
- 八波, 浩一 (1 March 2015). 仙厓の禅画―ユーモアに包まれたメッセージ [Zengas of Sengai:messages coated in humor] (in Japanese). 竹林舎. ISBN 9784902084627.