An imagined dialogue between Ryokan the monk (1758-1831) and one ¡°Ryo-kun¡± (2013-). The monk speaks first.
Ryokan: What¡¯s that?
Ryo-kun: This? You don¡¯t know what this is? It¡¯s a smartphone.
As childish as Ryokan may have been, human suffering wrung his heart. A portrait of the monk and calligraphy by him are shown here. (Ink on paper; early 19th century; replica before 1970)
| PUBLIC DOMAIN/ VIA WIKICOMMONS
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