Kasumi Bunshō

Background

Kasumi Bunshō was born on December 25, 1905 in Minokamo, Gifu, Japan.

Education

Kasumi Bunsho was taught by two major Zen masters: Nantembo and Deiryu.

Career

Kasumi Bunshō spent his whole life as a monk and Zen calligrapher. In particular, he shared a fondness for the subject of lines of monks, wearing their large circular hats, going out on their begging rounds. His begging practice (takuhatsu) was intended to instill humbleness and gratitude in the monks, and give lay people the opportunity to practice generosity. Kasumi Bunsho literally enlarged this subject by painting what might be considered murals on the walls of Kaisei-ji, which served as a constant reminder of the importance of takuhatsu.

Deiryu's influence on Kasumi Bunsho can most directly be seen through Bunsho's similar approach to painting Zen circles (enso). Enso are most often brushed in a single stroke starting at the lower left, with the center kept empty and the accompanying calligraphy brushed on the side or below the enso. However, both Deiryu and his student Kasumi Bunsho brushed calligraphy or images in the center of their enso, and also characteristically and unusually brushed their enso with pale gray ink. In his later years, Kasumi Bunsho became abbot of Kaisei-ji, Nantembo’s training hall, and also of Myoshin-ji, one of the ancient major Zen temples in Kyoto.

Achievements

• Kasumi Bunsho was especially noted for his large-scale calligraphies.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Horse

  • Heart

  • unknown title

  • Mind Enso

  • Namu ami dabutsu

  • Buddha Enso

  • Monks (Pair)

  • Cranes, Hares

  • Zen Fan

  • Dragon Calligraphy

  • Tea bowl

  • Sword

  • Ten Thousand Years

  • Dragon Call

  • Monkeys

  • Mu!

  • Dragon Enso

Views

Kasumi's great energy can be seen in many of his paintings through the exuberant opening splash of wild ink and flying white.