Kokei sanshou　虎渓三笑
CATEGORY:　art history / paintings
　
Ch:Huxi sanxiao.　 An allegory in which three Eastern Jin 東晋 literati realize by accident that spiritual purity cannot be measured by artificial boundaries. One day the poet Tao Yuanming 陶淵明 (Jp: *Tou Enmei, 365-417) and the Taoist Lu Xiujing 陸修静 (Jp: Riku Shuusei, 406-477) traveled to the Donglin 東林 temple on Mt. Lu 廬山 to visit the Buddhist theologian Huiyuan 慧遠 (Jp: E On, 334-416) who lived there as a recluse, vowing never to cross the stone bridge over the Tiger Ravine (Kokei 虎渓) that marked the boundary of the sanctuary. After an evening together, Huiyuan accompanied his friends as they left the temple. Deeply absorbed in conversation, Huiyuan inadvertently walked with them across the Tiger Ravine bridge. When the men realized what had happened they broke out in spontaneous laughter -- hence the title of the anecdote "Kokei sanshou" or "The Three Laughers of the Tiger Ravine." It is this moment that is usually depicted in paintings. The story probably originated with the late Tang Chan (Jp: Zen 禅) poet Guanxiu 貫休 (Jp: Kankyuu 832-912). Variations on the theme stress that the three men represent China's three creeds --- Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism --- and that in the instant that they crossed the bridge all were enlightened in that they realized narrow adherance to one philosophy or religion was contrary to true wisdom. In this way the theme is related to the similarly ecumenical subjects *Sankyou 三教 and *sansan-zu 三酸図 Notable illustrations include works by Ma Yuan 馬遠 (Jp: Ba En, late 12c), and, in Japan, by Chuuan Shinkou 仲安真康 (mid-15c), Shoukei 祥啓 (late 15c, Kohouan 孤逢庵, Daitokuji 大徳寺), Kanou Sanraku 狩野山楽 (1559-1635, Myoushinji 妙心寺) and Ike no Taiga 池大雅 (1723-76, Manpukuji 万福寺), Kyoto.
　
　

　
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