This painting depicts "One Sandal Daruma," a well-known theme in Zen art. An imperial messenger who had been sent to India was returning to China and happen to meet Bodhidharma , who was carrying only one sandal, along the road. "Where are you going?" asked the messenger. "Back to my native place," Bodhidharma said, and continued west. Later, when the messenger got back to China he learned that both the Emperor who had dispatched him, and Bodhidharma had died three years ago. Bodhidharma's tomb was open, and it was empty save for a single sandal.
This is a type of Buddhist resurrection story. From the Zen perspective, it means the spirit of Bodhidharma still exists, and can be encountered anywhere, on any path. This style of One-Sandal Daruma portrait, showing the Grand Patriarch with his head turned, gazing off in the distance, and holding his sandal high originated with Hakuin. It is a bold and dymanic Zenga.
