The enso or Zen circle has been a major symbol in Zen art for centuries. It is made with a single brushstroke. It can be said to symbolize both everything and nothing. To be aware of both at once is a central goal of Zen. This particular enso is probably the best-known enso in the world. It has been published millions of times. It was made by Suzuki Roshi in 1966 to be made into an open edition lithograph the same year. It was made to be sold for the benefit of San Francisco’s Zen Center founded by Suzuki Roshi. It was the first Zen monastery in the U.S. Now there are Zen Centers in most major cities in the U.S. This impression is from the first edition. (FLG)
Gift to Lanier Graham by David Chadwick, Chief Monk of the Mind-Heart Temple at Tassajara Springs, 1974 to encourage his study of "Zen and Modern Art" and his explanation of getting the Zen gong at the Oakland Museum (Wm. Keith Collection) to Zen Center.
- Subject Matter: Ensō
- Inventory Number: 2015.2.86
- Collections: Sacred World Art Collection