Ichidon Shōzui (1394–1428): A Master of Zen Brushwork Ichidon Shōzui, born around 1394 in Hitachi Prefecture, Ibaraki, Japan, stands as a pivotal figure within the Muromachi period’s artistic landscape—a time marked by profound cultural transformation and burgeoning Zen Buddhism. His legacy resides primarily in his exceptional ink paintings on paper, particularly “Not Clever,” which exemplifies the stylistic innovations of Kikuchi Yosai and embodies the core tenets of Zen aesthetics. Little is known about Shōzui's early life beyond his training under Fukuan Sōki at Hōunji Temple, a formative…