A senior monk of the Kegon 華厳 school of Buddhism and head abbot of Tōdai-ji 東大寺, a major temple in the city of Nara, Kamitsukasa Kaiun was also known for his work on the restoration of the temple’s Great Buddha Hall. He had a deep appreciation for collecting ancient ceramics and practicing calligraphy. In addition, he was a central figure in a circle of intellectuals, writers, and artists based in Nara.
The expression Kaiun inscribes in this piece is centered on the Buddhist term mushin 無心, which refers to a state of mind free from attachments—like clouds that, even as they change shape, retain their essence.
With a cursive style and mist-like brushstrokes, Kaiun visually composes his work by devoting the upper half of the space to the deconstruction of the character for “cloud” (kumo 雲), which, like real clouds, drifts, disperses, and dissolves into the air. This is a striking example of writing transformed into image.