Request for help with translation of important Japanese Zen calligraphy and painting by Yamaoka Tesshu

[Iaido dude]

I have exhausted all of my books and on-line resources trying to obtain a translation of the following kakejiku of a work by Yamaoka Tesshu that has been in my collection for some time, but just recently taken out of storage for permanent display. The original documentation from the Zen gallery owner (Belinda Sweet, retired) was lost during a move from Boston to Florida, although it may turn up eventually. Although Yamaoka brushed as many as 1 million works, the vast majority are calligraphy alone. There are a few common subjects for accompanying paintings (Daruma, various other Buddhist themes, ships, Mt. Fuji), this one is a combination of a vine-like plant and what I believe is a waterfall because of a similar rare published work also shown below along with translation that has the phrase "...gentle waterfall of sake.". The last few characters on the left column and that read "sezu" may be identical to mine, but is not followed by "Sake" as the first character of the next column. It reads like "Abundance" in kanji. Like a few of his works, the order of the characters and columns in this published work is read from left to right even though he signs in the left lower corner.

 

Yamaoka Tesshu (山岡 鉄舟) was born in Edo June 10, 1836 and died July 19, 1888.

This Zen painting was brushed in the last year of his life (well after his enlightenment experience at age 45) based on his seals and during a time when he was the personal bodyguard and advisor to the Meiji emperor. 

Yamaoka was born Ono Tetsutaro. A samurai and master swordsman who founded the Ittō Shōden Mutō-ryū (一刀正伝無刀流) school of swordsmanship, he was also a master calligrapher who is said to have completed 1 million works, and a recognized Zen master who died in the seated meditation position at the age of 52 from gastric cancer. Aside from being a master of Ken-Zen-Sho (Sword-Zen-Calligraphy), he was renown for his love of drinking sake and sleeping.

 

[Iaido dude]

My other prized Yamaoka Tesshu painting is shown below and has a place of honor on the high wall where I hang my small collection of museum quality and published Zen calligraphy and painting. I see it every day walking down the hallway.

 

Poem translation: "Point directly at the human heart, see into nature, and become a Buddha. Brushed by Yamaoka Tetsutaro, Senior Fourth Court Rank."

 

The depiction of Daruma, the patriarch of Japanese Zen Buddhism, is also a rare subject matter for Yamaoka. At 62.5 cm x 137 cm (excluding mount), it is also among the largest of his works.