Lit. Zen T (Ch: chan) painting. A modern
and somewhat ambiguous term often used to indicate painting and calligraphy that,
through subject, style or affiliation of the artist, demonstrates some aspect
of Zen Buddhism. It is important to distinguish zenga from the historical
term gazen ζT or painting zen, which refers to the practice of painting
as a Zen activity. Zenga is usually used to denote ink paintings done by
Zen priests of the Edo period that are quick and even amateurish in execution
and light-hearted in tone. The primary exponents of this style are the priests
Fuugai O (1568-1650), Hakuin B (1685-1769), and Sengai εR (also εϊ, 1750-1837). Zenga is also used more broadly to include much of Muromachi period ink painting and
the work of Chinese chan painters of the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties
who achieved great fame in Japan. |