Hakuin is one of the most remarkable figures in the history of Japanese Buddhism. He is regarded as the reviver, thus, the de facto founder, of contemporary Japanese Rinzai Zen, which is, in effect, monopolized by the Hakuin-lineage in the present day. It is from his lineage that all the presently existing lines, and thus priests, descend, so that the contemporary Japanese Rinzai Zen school is, effectively, Hakuin Zen. He is widely acknowledged as the most important Zen figure of the past 500 years.

Hakuin’s religious writings and considerable production of brush paintings and calligraphy are held up as examples of a highly developed capacity for religious experience (kenshō 見性 or satori 悟) in the Zen tradition. The tradition has almost exclusively emphasized his hard practice, decisive enlightenment experience, and tireless teaching activities in hagiographical manners. In other words, the tradition has categorized Hakuin into three types only: 1) Hakuin as the reviver of the tradition; 2) Hakuin as an ardent meditation master; and 3) Hakuin as a versatile artist.

Yet this very same process of “remembrance” risks ignoring his strong anti-elite social criticism and his equally present and cogent moral voice, or his voice of moral imperative. Hakuin was a fearless fighter for social justice whose campaign on behalf of farmers and the lower classes resulted in his condemnation of the luxurious lifestyle of political elites. We hope that we can present this significant aspect of Hakuin in the exhibit as well.

Hakuin was a tireless painter and calligrapher who produced literally tens of thousands of works with his brush. Most of his works are scattered among temples and private collections both inside and outside of Japan, and opportunities for the public to view a significant proportion of his works together in one place have been rare.