Eka danpi　慧可断臂

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Ch: Huike duanbi. Lit. Eka cutting (his) elbow. A painting subject based on the legend of Eka 慧可 (Ch: Huike; dates traditionally given as 487-593) who was the second Zen 禅 (Ch: Chan) patriarch to present his severed arm to *Daruma 達磨 as a sign of his sincerity and willingness to undergo the rigors of training under the first patriarch. Although variations of the story exist, the texts DENPOU HOUKI 伝法宝記 (Ch: Chuanfabaoji) and RYOUGA SHISHIKI 楞枷師子記 (Ch: Lengjiashiziji) tell how Eka traveled to Shaolinsi (Jp: Shourinji 少林寺) in North China to ask Daruma to instruct him in sitting meditation zazen 坐禅. Eka arrived to find Daruma practicing a type of meditation known as wall gazing hekikan 壁観 (Ch: biguan), or wall facing menpeki 面壁 (Ch: mianbi), and waited patiently in the snow for the master's attention. After a long while, Daruma gave a brief sermon on the discipline and hardship necessary for the study of Zen. Eka reacted by cutting off his arm at the elbow in a dramatic gesture of his sincerity. Although the Eka danpi story was not illustrated frequently, handscrolls by Dai Jin 戴進 (1388-1462; Liaoning 遼寧 Museum) and Yan Ciping 閻次平 (active ca. 1164-81; Cleveland Museum) and a hanging scroll by Sesshuu 雪舟 (1496; Sainenji 斎年寺, Aichi prefecture), illustrate this theme.

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