Bodhidharma on a Reed

About the Artwork

Bodhidharma (Daruma in Japanese) is the founder of the Zen school of Buddhism. He is usually represented as a bearded figure whose dark-skinned appearance refers to his Indian ancestry. His scowling facial expression not only signifies the determination with which he pursues religious enlightenment, but also discourages followers who are not similarly motivated. Zen Buddhism emphasizes the importance of seeking enlightenment directly through meditation, without reliance on the written word.

Inscriptions

Artist's seal: Shingo

Provenance

?–1983: (Kinzen Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) 1983–: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Exhibition history

The Year in Review for 1983. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 22-April 8, 1984). Suibokuga: Japanese Ink Painting. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 1, 1985-February 24, 1986).

Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.

Quick Overview

Artist: Shingo (Japanese)
Date: 1500s
Medium: hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper
Dimensions: Painting: 88.8 x 33.7 cm (34 15/16 x 13 1/4 in.); Mounted with knobs: 172.4 x 50.7 cm (67 7/8 x 19 15/16 in.)
Type: Painting
Classification: Painting
Department: Japanese Art
Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession no.: 1983.21

Open-access museum record · AT-00009950