An extraordinary Zen teacher and artist, Hakuin (1686-1769) is credited with almost single-handedly reforming and revitalizing Japanese Zen from a state of extreme spiritual decline.

What made Hakuin even more remarkable was that he was not only a religious teacher but also a prolific artist. Using calligraphy and painting to create "visual Dharma," he rendered his teachings on paper in portraits and sketches, visually expressing the nature of enlightenment as he imparted it to his students.

The Religious Art of Zen Master Hakuin is a stunning volume containing many of Hakuin's...