Daruma
c. 1550
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, colors, and gold on silk
Dimensions
109.2 × 54 cm (43 × 21 1/4 in.)
Classification
hanging scroll
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
117201
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Zen rose to prominence in Japan in the 13th century, after receiving support from the ruling Kamakura shogunate. In this sect of Buddhism, images of patriarchs were especially revered because the relationships between masters and disciples are of primary importance to the transmission of Zen teachings. Zen’s semilegendary founder, Daruma (A.D. c. 470–c. 543), came from southern India and crossed the Yangzi River in China, where he meditated in a cave at the Shaolin monastery for nine years. In t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...