The Eccentrics Hanshan and Shide

These paintings show the Zen poet Hanshan and the former kitchen worker Shide, holding a broom. Note the thick lines used to express the robes of these figures; a characteristic of medieval Zen painting. Hanshan and Shide are two legendary figures who are said to have lived in the Guoqing Temple in China during the Tang dynasty, where they cleaned and took care of the temple. It’s said that they wore unusual outfits and that they continually used words and performed acts which couldn’t be understood by normal people. There remain poems written by Hanshan which decry the world and the corruption of Buddhism. Later, their way of living unrestricted by convention, and their rebellious spirit were revered by the Zen Buddhists, and they became a popular subject of East Asian paintings. This piece consists of two paintings: the one on the right shows Hanshan with his arms crossed, and the painting on the left shows Shide holding a broom. They both have ruffled hair, crescent-shaped eyes, and show their white teeth in broad smiles.

The contours of their eyes, mouths, and nostrils are painted in many layers of ink, providing them with a lively appearance. In contrast, the lines of their clothes are painted with a thick rough brush, showing their accomplished spirituality. The strong contrast created by their finely detailed faces and roughly painted clothes is characteristic of Zen Buddhist imagery. This piece is unique for the strange impression it gives at first glance, and the strong impression that the intense smiles of Hanshan and Shide leave on the viewer. Yan Hui, to whom this painting is attributed, was a famous Yuan-dynasty painter of human figures who was active from the 13th through the 14th century. Due to the skillful use of color and vivid appearance of the figures, these paintings have been highly regarded especially in Japan. They were owned by prominent generals and large temples, and strongly influenced early modern Japanese artists.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.