One of the Most Mysterious Japanese Zen Symbols by Sengai Gibon

A circle, a triangle and a square: three simple shapes in a Zen painting that continue to provoke debate. Created by Sengai Gibon in the early nineteenth century, the work connects to Shōfuku-ji Temple and a monk known for his humour. Rather than claim one definitive meaning, explore the historical clues and questions that make this Japanese image so enduringly mysterious.