The silk coloured portrait of Eiheisoshi with a poem
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registered
location
Owner
S43. January 19th. City Cultural Property
Okudano, Obama city
Eifukuan Soutou sect
The Eifukuan where Menzan Zen priest lived in retirement has many writings of zen priest. One of them is a Kyoten and another one is a drawing with poem.
There is a portrait of Dougen Zen priest but the artist of this drawing is unknown. And Menzan Zen priest wrote a poem on this portrait.
Menzan Zen priest was a deep believer of Dougen Zen priest, he went and worship to Eiheiji. He never showed a bottom of his foot to the direction of Eiheiji.
This poem was written about what Menzan Zen priest felt when he saw this portrait;
His eyes would see everything in this world. He was full of energy and youth. His spirit would go to the universe and the power of his soul would reach the world of fantasy. I have faith in him to inherit his soul.
It was written in Kyoho 20(1735) while he was staying Kuinji in Obama.
There are many writings of Menzan Zen priest, but the poem, written on the portrait of Dougen Zen pirest, has a style of its own.
It was transferred to this temple while Zuishi, the 16th generation of the temple, was the chief priest.