The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 18, 2025
The Zen Patriarch Daruma on a Reed
1500s
(Japanese)
Image: 88.8 x 33.7 cm (34 15/16 x 13 1/4 in.); Overall: 173.4 x 50.8 cm (68 1/4 x 20 in.)
Location: Not on view
Description
Bodhidharma (Daruma in Japanese) is the founder of the Zen school of Buddhism. He is usually represented as a bearded figure whose dark-skinned appearance refers to his Indian ancestry. His scowling facial expression not only signifies the determination with which he pursues religious enlightenment, but also discourages followers who are not similarly motivated. Zen Buddhism emphasizes the importance of seeking enlightenment directly through meditation, without reliance on the written word.- Turner, Evan H. “Year in Review for 1983.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 71, no. 2 (February 1984): 38–79. Mentioned: p. 77, no. 235; Reproduced: p. 41 www.jstor.org
- Suibokuga: Japanese Ink Painting. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 1, 1985-February 24, 1986).The Year in Review for 1983. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 22-April 8, 1984).
- {{cite web|title=The Zen Patriarch Daruma on a Reed|url=false|author=Shingo|year=1500s|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1983.21