Bodhidharma on the Way

Name: Bodhidharma on the Way
Brand: Unkoku Tōban
SKU: 6436
Price: 550.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 168 x 52 cm

Product number: 6436

Height 168 cm
Width 52 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Bone
Material Honshi Silk
Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

Signature / Stamp:

Unkoku Tōban

€550.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

In this striking depiction, Bodhidharma, also known as Daruma, the legendary founder of Zen Buddhism in China, strides with a firm step over uneven ground. His body is suggested with only a few, but confident brushstrokes, giving the figure an almost floating presence. The line work is energetic and at the same time free, typical of the expressive tradition of the Unkoku school. The artist forms Daruma's robe in flowing movements that emphasize his spiritual concentration and the inner calm of the wandering monk. The barren surroundings stand in deliberate contrast to the powerful figure and lend the scene an atmosphere of quiet determination.

The reduced color palette, limited to gradations of ink, draws the eye to the posture and expression. Daruma's alert gaze, his slightly forward-leaning posture, and the flowing contours of his robe make the scene appear vivid, as if the monk were in the midst of a long, meditative journey. The ground beneath his feet is rendered as a rough, earthy surface, symbolic of the path of practice.

Dating from the Meiji period, painted on silk and fitted with a jikusaki made of bone, the work bears the seal of Unkoku Toban. The attribution to the Unkoku school underscores its art-historical background.

Frequently asked

Does this work carry a seal or signature?

Yes, this piece carries the signature or seal of Unkoku Tōban

When was the work created?

Based on the previous owners' information and the condition of the object we place it broadly in the Meiji (1868–1912) period, but cannot give a precise date.

Is this genuine craftsmanship?

Yes, this piece is a genuine handcrafted original that exists only once.

Why does the date of creation sometimes not match the artist's dates

Because the two pieces of information speak about different things: the period designation describes the object – support, colors, condition – while the signature reflects which name appears on the painting. In most cases there is no attempt at deception behind this, but rather Japanese painting training: copying from workshop models was the curriculum for centuries, an utsushi is regarded as a bow to the teacher, workshops signed with the master's name, and artist names were passed down within a school. Such a hanging scroll is therefore not a forgery, but a hand-painted one-of-a-kind that continues the formal language of its school – just not the work of the famous name, and priced accordingly. We explain this in detail in the guide Why does a kakemono often bear the signature of an artist long deceased?.