Japanese Hanging Scroll - Not Knowing is Most Intimate (fuchi sai shinsetsu) (VD5A)

Not Knowing is Most Intimate
不知最親切
12 1/4 in W x 43 in H Japanese Hanging Scroll
by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase

Here we offer 7 different hand-brushed Japanese Not Knowing is Most Intimate tattoo designs by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase. For these Not Knowing is Most Intimate tattoo designs the fonts are different, but the characters and the meaning are the same. So order the style you like - the meaning is the same for each design.

Not Knowing is Most Intimate in Japanese is 不知最親切 which is read fuchi sai shinsetsu. The Zen phrase fuchi sai shinsetsu is from the 20th Koan in Shoyoroku - called "The Book of Equanimity" (also "The Book of Serenity") written in the 12th Century by Hongzhi Zhengjue. This phrase has been described as the heart of Zen Buddhism. The Koan goes that Jizo asks Hogen where he is going. Hogen replied on a pilgrimage. Then Jizo asked why and Hogen replied that he did not know. To this Jizo said, "Not knowing is most intimate".

For this design we have used the Chinese characters. The modern Japanese would be only slightly different reading fuchi mottomo shinsetsu and written 不知最も親切.

There are several great on-line resouces. See Eric Boix page Shoyoroku for English translations. If you have Japanese fonts you can read discussions on the Koan at Shouyouroku Kouwa by Douken Takada [1906] and Shouyouroku Tsuukai by Nyoten Jinbo [1915]. Also we suggest the book The Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues by Thomas Cleary.

Translations You Can Trust: We want you to be as happy with the Japanese translation as you are with Master Takase's beautiful art.

Click on any of the above links and you will be taken to an independent dictionary Jeffrey's Japanese English Dictionary where you can immediately verify the translation for yourself.

About The Art: This beautiful hand-brushed scroll by Master Takase is personally created at the time of your order and proudly bears her seal and signature. This is a high-quality scroll with light brown silk borders and fine Japanese paper from one of the finest scroll makers in Nara Japan. This is a personal work of art that is designed to last generations.

Delivery: The scroll is completed and shipped within 1-3 business days and arrives ready to display.

For more options visit our general product page Not Knowing is Most Intimate (fuchi sai shinsetsu).