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Kindly help with the inscription.

Artist: Attributed to KUKOKU MYOO 空谷明應 (1328-1407).
Medium: Hanging scroll, ink on paper, with a wooden box and paper slip attributing it to Kukoku. On the back of the scroll, it is written 空谷, Kukoku.
Dimensions: 150 x 60 cm.

Below is the paper slip as well.

All the best

Stefan

Some more images

I put it aside for a while, and today the inspiration came.
(Alternative kanas rewritten in their current form)
ならくやおなし
火宅のうちなれと
きをいるもあり深く
安るもあり
空谷
Naraku ya onaji
kataku no uchi naredo
ki wo iru mo ari fukaku
anzuru mo ari
Kukoku
Even it is the hell or the world of suffering,
sometimes I am anxious, sometimes I am at peace
Kukoku

With regards,
I.Nagy

Paper slip;
室町初期の臨済宗の僧号若虚、近江の人
無極志玄の法嗣、将軍足利義満、義持らの帰衣を得，美濃天福寺、相国寺，等持寺、天龍寺などに歴住，鹿苑院主にもなった.持賜号仏日常光国師。「常光国師語録」がある。嘉暦三～応永一四年
(一三二八-一四0七)
Rinzai Sect priest of the early Muromachi period.
Pseudonym: Jakkyo, a native of Ōmi.
Inherited the teachings of Mukyoku Shigen. Patronized by shōguns； Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Yoshimochi and others. Was the resident of Minō Tenpuku-ji Temple,　Shōkoku-ji Temple and Tenryū-ji Temple etc.　He was also the head of Shikaen-in
Temple.
Posthumous pseudonyms; Butsunichi Jōkō Kokushi and
「Jōkō Kokushi」also noted.　Karyaku 2∼　Oei 14 Years
(1328-1407)

Hand-written inscription:
仏日常光国師、天竜寺、相国寺　歴住
Futsunichi Jōkō Kokushi, Served as Chief Priest of Tenryū-ji Temple, Shōkoku-ji Temple

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thank you so much for your competent translations and the effort you put into it. It is very much appreciated.

This ensō is the oldest in our collection of some 650 and the third oldest Japanese I have seen this far.

All the very best!

Stefan

URL Title :ENSŌ 円相 COLLECTION

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