Currently not on view
Bodhidharma in a Cave,
1850 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Liaoliang 了亮, painter, active late Qing dynasty
Chinese
Qing dynasty, 1644–1912
y1958-254
Information
Title
Bodhidharma in a Cave
Dates
1850 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Maker
Liaoliang 了亮 , painter
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink rubbing on paper
Dimensions
image: 101 x 42.7 cm. (39 3/4 x 16 13/16 in.)
122 x 47 cm. (48 1/16 x 18 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George Rowley
Object Number
y1958-254
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
Top, right:
Shu Hengxi 舒亨熙 (1793-1879)
一葦渡江，九年面壁，妙相遊天，精誠貫石，
悟上乘禪，具大法力，釋教初開，惟師第一，
是色是空，不生不滅，片影空上，千秋靈蹟。
知登封縣事奉化舒亨熙賛
Rubbing seals:
“Shu Hengxi yin” 舒亨熙印, sq. relief
“Fuqiao” 芙嶠, sq. intaglio
Notes:
1. Shu Hengxi 舒亨熙 (1793-1879), zi:會嘉, hao: 芙嶠, native of 奉化 Zhejiang 浙江. 道光十二年举人，官至直隶知州，工诗文。
Top, left:
Chu [Fa]tun 初[法]暾 (late Qing dynasty)
嵩山少林寺。。。
道光三十年[1850]十一月邗江東初[法or 泛？]暾識於*陽及署。
Rubbing seals:
“[Fa]tun xinyin” [法] 暾信印, sq. relief
[][], sq. relief
Bottom right:
Liaoliang 了亮 (late Qing dynasty)
太空沙門了亮敬寫
Notes
1. The Buddhist Liaoliang (late Qing dynasty) was a co-compiler of 《蕅益大師梵室偶談一卷徹悟禪師語錄二卷》(金陵刻經處刻本, 1871).
Description
Bodhidharma, an Indian sage (5th-6th century) who is said to have transmitted Chan Buddhism to China, is shown seated in a cave with clouds overhead. According to legend, he is said to have crossed the Yangzi River on a reed to travel to the Shaolin Monastery on Mount Song in Henan province. After either being turned away, he lived in a nearby cave, facing a wall meditating without speaking for nine years. At top is an inscription by Shu Hengxi 舒亨熙 (1793-1879) on the right, and one dated 1850 by Chu [Fa]tun 初[法]暾 (late Qing dynasty) on the left. The carved pictorial stone from which this rubbing is taken from was carved after a painting by the Buddhist adept Liaoliang 了亮 (late Qing dynasty), who’s short inscription is at lower right.
Culture
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