On the left, Danxia, a Tang-dynasty Zen priest, holds his hands out towards a bonfire. He is burning Buddhist statues. The Buddhist priest on the right criticizes him, but Danxia retorts that the worship of idols is meaningless. The trees painted with a rather dry brush, Danxia’s cynical expression, the other priest’s pointing finger all communicate the atmosphere of this scene.
This painting, with Han-shan and Shi-de (Tokyo National Museum), Hotei (Nezu Museum), Priest Zhichang (Seikado Bunko Art Museum), and Priest Zhichang and Courtier Libo (Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art), were probably all part of one picture scroll. Each was painted by Yintoulou and has a poetic inscription by Chushi Fanqi, both eminent priests in the late Yüan period (fourteenth century).