David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :
'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)
(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.
The smart little monk’s reputation reached the ears of Shogun Yoshimitsu (1358-1408), and Ikkyū was summoned to the castle for a meeting.
"I’ve heard that you are quite bright,” the shogun said to Ikkyū. "Do you think you can catch a tiger?"
"Yes, my lord, I believe I can,” Ikkyū replied with great confidence. "Here is a rope. Catch that one," the shogun challenged, pointing to a tiger painted on a large screen in the room.
Without hesitation, Ikkyū placed himself in front of the screen, readied the rope, and shouted, "Now, my lord, please drive the tiger out!”
John Stevens
Three Zen Masters: Ikkyū, Hakuin, and Ryōkan
Theatre of the Actors of Regard
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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something...
