Zengetsu Daishi and Saints c. mid 19th century

Butsujo Jisen painted ‘Zengetsu Daishi and Saints’ in Japan sometime before his death in 1870. At the painting’s apex, Zengetsu Daishi sits in lotus position, haloed, the embodiment of enlightenment. Halos recur around the other figures, bestowing sanctity upon them. The rocky landscape is populated by arhats, enlightened disciples of Buddha, each carrying symbolic objects like scrolls. We see echoes of these motifs throughout history. Halo-like mandorlas in medieval Christian art, similarly, signified divine grace. The recurring motif of figures meditating in serene landscapes reminds us of anchorites contemplating life. The scroll, an ancient symbol of knowledge, appears here, as in classical Greek depictions of philosophers holding scrolls, representing wisdom passed down through generations. Such visual elements act as potent cultural signifiers, tapping into our collective memory. The cyclical return and adaptation of symbols like the halo or the scroll show the human psyche's enduring quest for meaning and connection to the divine or the enlightened.