Hōtei Pointing to the Moon
Attributed to Shinno Noami
15th century“Big Belly” or “Cloth Bag” Budai, known as Hōtei in Japan, was a tenth-century monk who wandered around Siming (modern Ningbo) in China with his walking staff, begging for alms to place in his sack. Eccentric and given to puzzling pronouncements, he was thought to be an earthly incarnation of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. Hōtei was a favorite subject in Zen ink painting. Easily recognizable, he personified the pure nature and intuitive experience necessary for enlightenment. Hōtei points at the cloud to teach us that truth cannot be rationally taught. A mere handful of dynamic ink lines describes Hōtei’s robed body. The finer gray lines and wash are used for his face, hands, and foot, in accordance with tradition of Zen figure painting.
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The painting’s title is “Hōtei Pointing to the Moon.” The painting’s caption says “Hōtei points at the cloud.” Which is it? Should we focus on his pointing finger instead?