Wuzhun Shifan

Wuzhun Shifan (Chinese: 無準師範; Wade-Giles: Wu Chun Shih Fan; 1178–1249) was a Chinese calligrapher, and Zen Buddhist monk who lived during the late Song Dynasty (960–1279).

[1] For this Wuzhun was given the title Fojian Yuanzhao Chanshi (Mirror of the Buddha, Zen Teacher) as well as a gold-embroidered kaśaya that he wears in his portrait painting of 1238.

Afterwards, Enni helped cement greater acceptance for Zen teaching in Japan and aided in the establishment of the Tōfuku-ji temple of Kyoto in 1236.

Wuzhun Shifan's written inscription appears on the 13th century Chinese painting A Monk Riding a Mule, housed in the Collection of John M. Crawford Jr.[2] It is possible that he painted the picture, although it is unknown if he is the true author of the artwork.

[4] Bernard Faure writes that it is painted in the Chan priest portrait style, known as dingxiang or zhenxiang (Japanese: chinzō).

A painting of Wuzhun Shifan kept at Gunma Prefectural Museum of History , Takasaki, Gunma, Japan, by an anonymous Japanese artist of the Nanbokucho period (1334–1392)