Seijo’s Two Souls

Chokan had a very beautiful daughter named Seijo. He also had a handsome young cousin named Ochu. Joking, he would often comment that they would make a fine married couple. Actually, he planned to give his daughter in marriage to another man. But young Seijo and Ochu took him seriously; they fell in love and…

The Short Staff

Shuzan held out his short staff and said, “If you call this a short staff, you oppose its reality. If you do not call it a short staff, you ignore the fact. Now what do you wish to call this?”

darkness

everyone gone …in the wake of fireworksdarkness! Shiki

Yoshitsune and his Followers and the Terrible Storm in Daimotsu Bay

1899 Shusei “Yoshitsune and his Followers and the Terrible Storm in Daimotsu Bay” (Daimotsu-no-ura ni Yoshitsune shūjū nanpū). Ōban triptych.  Publisher: Morimoto Shōtarō.

Tanzan passes the river

“Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. “Come on, girl” said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud….

Bandō Kamezō I

The actor Bandō Kamezō I as Koike Gokutarō in the play Chiyo no haru Tosa-e no saya ate, Ichimura Theater, II/1861, from the series “Stylish Mirror Reflections” (Imayō oshi-e kagami) Art by Kunisada

Shônin

“Merchants” (Shōnin), from the series “Stylish imaginary four classes” (Imayō mitate shi-nō-kō-shō). Imaginary view of beautiful women selling and buying prints and illustrated books. Art by Kunisada

autumn in the village

karikakeshi / tazura no tsuru ya / sato no aki The countryside — in the half harvestedrice paddies, a crane—autumn in the village Matsuo Bashò Art by Maekawa Senpan

the moon swift

tsuki hayashi / kozue wa ame o / mochinagara the moon swift,the branches still holding the rain Matsuo Bashò Art by Mu

Santoka’s Religion

My Three Precepts:Do not waste anything.Do not get angry.Do not complain. My Three Vows:Do not attempt the impossible.Do not feel regret for the past.Do not berate oneself. My three Joys: Study, contemplation, Haiku

Walking meditation

“Without anger, without speaking,Without covetousness,Walk slowly, walk steadily!”

Where are you going?

Zen teachers train their young pupils to express themselves. Two Zen temples each had a child protégé. One child, going to obtain vegetables each morning, would meet the other on the way. “Where are you going?” asked the one. “I am going wherever my feet go,” the other responded. This reply puzzled the first child…