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Tea-grinding stone mill
Tea-grinding stone mill

Tea-grinding stone mill

Artist (Japanese, 1685 - 1768)
Place of OriginJapan
Dateapprox. 1740-1768
PeriodEdo period (1615-1868)
CultureJapanese
MaterialsInk on paper
DimensionsH. 10 1/2 in x W. 20 1/8 in, H. 26.6 cm x W. 51.2 cm (image); H. 41 in x W. 20 7/8 in, H. 104.0 cm x W. 53.0 cm (overall)
Credit LineGift of Jeanne G. O'Brien in memory of James E. O'Brien
Object number1993.34
DepartmentJapanese Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on view
InscribedAn ant on a millstone turns round and round, like humans who struggle in worldly affairs.
MarkingsSeals of "Hakuin" "Ekaku no in" and "Kokani"
More Information

INSCRIPTION:
On a stone mill,
an ant turns and turns
as if turning around is its way of life.

SEALS:
Hakuin, Haikuin no in

This painting shows a stone mill for grinding tea leaves. On top of the mill is an ant, which goes round and round as the mill turns. Hakuin, a great Zen monk painter of the Edo period, was satirically questioning why the ant did what he was doing.

As in many of his Zen paintings, Hakuin here depicted his subject in the most abbreviated manner; the entire painting—round tray, mill, and ant—was drawn with fewer than ten strokes, with which he nevertheless was able to produce sufficient variations in ink tone.