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Art History
Painting
Ch: Guiguzi. The Chinese eccentric and recluse Wang Xu (Jp: Ō Ku 王詡) who lived approximately 3rd-4th century BC. After a prophetic dream, he entered the mountains to gather medicine and achieved enlightenment. He was associated with the Gui 鬼 valley in Shanxi 山西 Province, thus earning the nicknames Guiguzi and Guigu Xiansheng (Jp: Kikoku Sensei 鬼谷先生). The scholars Su Qin 蘇秦 (Jp: So Shin 蘇秦, ?-317 BC) and Zhang Yi (Jp: Chō Gi 張儀, ?-310 BC) are said to have traveled into the mountains to study with the young hermit. Kikokushi's portrait (a work of imagination) was painted usually together with other Zen 禅 eccentrics. Notable is a picture by Kano Sanraku 狩野山楽 (1590-1651).