The Zen symbol "supreme" is an enso, a circle of enlightenment. The Shinjinmei, written in the sixth century, refers to the Great Way of Zen as "A circle like vast space, lacking nothing, and nothing in excess," and this statement is often used as an inscription on enso paintings. The earliest reference to a written enso, the first Zen painting, occurs in the Keitokudento-roku, composed in the eighth century: A monk asked Master Isan for a gatha expressing enlightenment. Isan refused saying, "It is right in front of your face, why should I express it in brush and ink?" The monk then asked Kyozan, another master, for something concrete. Kyozan drew a circle on a piece of paper, and said, "Thinking about this is and then understanding it is second best; not thinking about it and understanding it is third best." (He did not say what is first best.) Thereafter Zen circles became a central theme of Zen art. Enso range in shape from perfectly symmetrical to completely lopsided and in brushstroke (sometimes two brushstrokes) from thin and delicate to thick and massive. Most paintings have an accompanying inscription that gives the viewer a "hint" regarding the ultimate meaning of a particular Zen circle. The primary types of enso are: (1) Mirror enso: a simple circle, free of an accompanying inscription, leaving everything to the insight of the viewer. (2) Universe enso: a circle that represents the cosmos (modern physics also postulates curved space). (3) Moon enso: the full moon, clear and bright, silently illuminating all beings without discrimination, symbolizes Buddhist enlightenment. (4) Zero enso: in addition to being curved, time and space are "empty," yet they give birth to the fullness of existence. (5) Wheel enso: everything is subject to change, all life revolves in circles. (6)Sweet cake enso: Zen circles are profound but they are not abstract, and when enlightenment and the acts of daily life-"sipping tea and eating rice cakes"-are one, there is true Buddhism. (7) "What is this?" enso: the most frequently used inscription on Zen circle paintings, this is a pithy way of saying, "Don't let others fill your head with theories about Zen; discover the meaning for yourself!" Click on a scroll below for detailed scroll information. Join our mailing list to receive notification of website updates. Enso by Awakawa Koichi (1903-1977) Is this the moon? Or a sweet cake? Or maybe it is just... (sealed) Awakawa-an ID: 43 Enso by Gyokuden Shinhaku (1871-1961) A dragon spits out a radiant jewel and it flies in and out! (signed) Obaku Gyokuden ID: 45 Enso by Setsuo Yodo ID: 2052 Enso by Kobori Takugan ID: 2053 Enso by Furukawa Gyodo (1872-1961) ID: 2055 Enso by Nishida Tenko (1872-1968) ID: 2056 Enso by Furuhata Kaio (1872-1949) ID: 2059 Rice Cake Enso by Nakagawa Soen (1907-1984) ID: 2116 Rice Cake/Moon Mind Enso by Nakagawa Soen (1907-1984) Try and eat this! Is it a dumpling? ID: 157 Daruma by Yamamoto Gempo (1886-1961) ID: 2011 Daruma/Enso by Nakagawa Soen (1907-1984) Not one moment of hurry Not one wasted breath ID: 209 Enso by Noda Saburo (twentieth century) Muge (No Hindrance) (signed) Guhaku*  ID: 2 Enso by Kasumi Bunsho (1905-1998) Wondrous Mind! (signed) Kancho (Abbot) Jishunken ID: 17 Enso by Fujii Kaido (1898-1994) (signed) The old fellow Kaido, formerly of Daitoku[-ji] ID: 36 Enso by Ashizu Sekiren (1850-1921) Fine food is not suitable fare for one who is satiated... (signed) Sekiren ID: 37 Enso by Ozeki Honko (1874-1944) The source of all things. The Great Ultimate... ID: 41 Enso by Inaba Shinden (1906-1986) Good in the clear, Good too when behind the clouds. (sealed) Shinden ID: 44 Enso by Seki Seisetsu (1877-1944) (signed) Gao* ID: 46 Enso by Keido Josho (1888-1987) Tennen (Nature) (signed) Ninety-four-year-old Keido, Twice Resident of Daitoku[-ji] ID: 47 Enso by Shimada Kikusen (1872-1959) All the monks of the world Leap in but cannot emerge! (signed) The old-fellow Unryu of Nanzen ID: 48 Enso by Inaba Shinden (1906-1986) Bright Moon ID: 149 Enso by Nishida Tenko (1872-1968) Within not one thing there are inexhaustible treasures. ID: 152 Enso by Yamanda Mumon (1900-1988) A rice cake? ID: 165 Enso by Ohira Zenzo (1874-1952) One round bright mooon ID: 172 Enso by Shimada Kikusen (1872-1959) This is a painting of my mind ID: 205 Enso by Yamamoto Gempo (1886-1961) The bright light of tranquility shines over the entire world ID: 210 Enso by Nishida Tenko (1872-1968) Within not one thing there are inexhaustable treasures ID: 228 Enso by Kozan, Fuji (1901-1992) All human affairs are the jewels of enlightenment ID: 239 Enso by Jimoto Rankei (1795-1870) ID: 249 Enso by Miura Joten (1872-1958) Within not one thing ID: 270 Enso by Takeda Ekiju (1896-1989) A Peaceful Universe ID: 275 Enso by Shaku Daibi (1882-1964) ID: 288 Enso by Yokono Ichio ID: 2051 Enso by Setsuo Yodo ID: 2054 Enso by Myodo Soin (twentieth century) ID: 2057 Enso by Saio ID: 2058 Enso by Oho ID: 2060 Enso by Saikan Anshu ID: 2083 Enso Daruma by Mamiya Eiju (1871-1945) The ups and downs of life ID: 187 Moon Enso by Yamamoto Gempo (1886-1961) I am living in the moon ID: 251 Moon/Enso by Wada Gesshin (1800-1870) ID: 2082 O-medama Enso by Nakagawa Soen (1907-1984) Do not get a scolding! ID: 128 Oh Master! by Koshu of Jikishi Hermitage (20th Century) SHU JIN KO Oh Master! ID: 131 VIRTUE by Kasumi Bunsho (1905-1998) TOKU (VIRTUE) (signed) Kaisei Dainanju ID: 140 WAY by Kasumi Bunsho (1905-1998) DO (WAY) (signed) Kaisei Dainanju* ID: 139 What is this? by Nakagawa Soen (1907-1984) What [the hell] is this? ID: 213

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