The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin Hardcover - 2010

Media reviews

"This handsome, richly illustrated book offers an insightful, wide-ranging, and always lucid account of one of Japan's most inventive artists. Seo and Addiss examine Hakuin's work in religious, philosophical, and social contexts, but they never forget that the paintings and calligraphies are aesthetic objects; much of the commentary helps readers to enjoy the artistry of specific works."—Sylvan Barnet, PhD, Tufts University, author of A Short Guide to Writing about Art, coauthor of Zen Ink Paintings


"The Sound of One Hand is a masterful account of the art and poetry of the famous eighteenth-century Zen master Hakuin, but it is so much more. The way in which the authors have juxtaposed image, history, and biography not only succeeds in making Hakuin's spirit relevant to any reader today, but their essays provide a virtual textbook of how to approach, and understand, the long history of Zen in Japan. Humor, profundity, charm, and satire can be found here in images, calligraphy, and poetry alike. The whole book provides any reader with a striking lesson in how to look."—J. Thomas Rimer, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Theater, Literature, and Art, University of Pittsburgh, coauthor of Traditional Japanese Arts and Culture: A Sourcebook

"What a treasure trove this book is for all those interested in Zen Buddhism as well as Japanese religion, art history, and folklore. Reading this book and viewing its plates and figures is an exhilarating and thought-provoking experience for the way it insightfully captures East Asian culture and aesthetics."—Steven Heine, PhD, Professor of Religious Studies and History and Director of Asian Studies, Florida International University, author of Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters

“Beautifully produced . . . this superb book is a testament to [Addiss and Seo’s] dedicated study of the art of Zen calligraphy. The inscriptions which accompany the paintings are not just interpreted; the authors analyze the meaning, placement, rhythms, and scale of the characters used to help even the untrained eye to begin to appreciate Zen calligraphy. The Sound of One Hand offers many insights into the aesthetics of the art and poetry of one of Japan’s most creative and ingenious monk-artists who opened Zen to a wider world.”—Shakkei: The Journal of The Japanese Garden Society