Zen painting on silk, mounted as a hanging scroll by Nantenbo Nakahara (1839-1925)
"Procession of begging monks".
Size of painting: 40.5 cm X 122 cm
Size of mounted scroll: 62.5 cm X 198 cm
Signed and sealed by Nantenbo
Procession of begging monks, Zen novices setting out to seek alms at houses in the neighborhood.  Such humble tasks are very essence of Zen religious practice.
Note: Nantenbo was a son of a Samurai family of Hizen Province.  As a young man, he entered the Yuko-ji temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen, and later studied under the Zen master Sekio of the Enpuku-ji temple in Kyoto.  In his later years, when he succeeded the priest Ranzan of the Bairin-ji temple in Kurume, Kyushu, he did not advance into an administrative position, but rather wandered the country, visiting various temples.  Keen in intellect, he was also known for his charity and became one of the most famous figures of the modern Rinzai sect.  The Meiji period General Nogi is known to have practiced Zen under his guidance.