En route to northern China, the legendary Indian monk Bodhidharma, regarded as the founder of Zen Buddhism, is said to have crossed the Yangtze River while standing on a reed.
The scene is impressively depicted here by the famed figure painter Ding Yunpeng. Bodhidharma stands erect, his hands crossed in front of his chest. Dressed in a flowing red garment, he unflinchingly gazes straight ahead. His solid figure forms a strong contrast with the river’s churning waves. In the midst of the storm of life, this figure radiates calm and concentration.