This shikishi artwork depicts Jizō Bosatsu rendered in a powerful yet gentle ink style, accompanied by the calligraphy 妙法 (Myōhō) and signed by Suzuki Ōei (鈴木凰永). The Jizō figure is expressed through minimal, confident brushstrokes—its rounded head, closed eyes, and simplified body conveying serenity, compassion, and quiet protection.
The phrase 妙法, meaning “Wonderful Dharma” or “Mystic Law,” refers to the profound truth of Buddhist teaching and the universal principle that leads beings toward enlightenment. When paired with Jizō—venerated in Japan as a guardian of children, travelers, and wandering souls—the inscription reinforces themes of mercy, guidance, and spiritual reassurance. The composition suggests that compassion itself is the living expression of the Dharma.
鈴木凰永 is known as a Buddhist calligrapher and ink artist whose work bridges religious devotion and expressive Zen aesthetics. His practice is rooted in temple culture and Buddhist philosophy, and many of his works center on sacred figures, sutra phrases, and short Zen aphorisms. Rather than focusing on decorative refinement, his style emphasizes spiritual immediacy: brushstrokes are direct, uncorrected, and imbued with the energy of the moment, reflecting the Zen ideal of unity between mind, body, and brush.
Suzuki Ōei’s life as a Buddhist priest and calligrapher, showing his deep involvement with Shingon Buddhism, temple leadership at Mount Kōya, and a long career of calligraphy exhibitions across Japan from the late 1960s through the Heisei era.
Size: 24 x 27cm
