A skeleton plays the gekkin lute, a sake cup and Tokkuri set to the side. The face of the instrument is decorated with a crescent moon and soaring cuckoo. The verse above is signed Junbutsu Dojin and stamped Koizumi Ryotei. The image is signed Ryuin. Ink on silk mounted in patterned linen with bone rollers. It is 55 x 194.5 cm (21-1/2 x 76-1/2 inches) and in overall excellent condition.
Koizumi Ryotei (also Ryotai, 1851-1938) was born the first son of the 8th generation head of Horinji Temple, Koizumi Ryoen, in Sabae, Fukui. Upon the early death of his father, Ryotai became the head of the temple at age 12. At the age of 14, Ryōtai entered the dormitory of Mino Taisho-ji Taian, where he studied Buddhism for several years. After that, he went to Tokyo to study apocryphal texts (religious books other than Buddhism), Chinese poetry, waka poetry, calligraphy, etc. In 1873, he entered Keio Gijuku and learned English. In the Meiji period, the government announced the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism as a policy, and established Shinto as the state religion. As a result, an era of movements for religious reforms and discrimination known as Haibutsukishaku began, and overseas missionary activities became popular within the Buddhist world. There was also a movement among monks to study scriptures in the original texts in order to master Buddhism. In this way, monks from various sects of Japanese Buddhism went to study in Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. In 1889, Ryōtei was selected as an international student on behalf of Motoyama Seishoji Temple. He traveled from India to Sri Lanka, studied Sanskrit, and studied Hinayana Buddhism. Here, Ryotai achieved excellent research results and was praised as "a role model for the people." After that, he continued to study abroad, and in Turkey he gave a sermon to the emperor, while in France he gave a sermon to a crowd of 300 people including the president. French newspapers at the time introduced him as "the living Buddha of the Orient" and "the beginning of the spread of Buddhism in Europe." After returning to Japan, in appreciation of Ryotei's efforts, he was given a special robe and a high position by the head priest, but Ryotei accepted only the robe and refused the position. It is said that he was "deeply devoted, never wore hair, and never wore a colored robe." Ryotei continued to serve the three head priests of Seishoji Temple and continued to support the head temple. In particular, Shugen, the 26th head priest of Seishoji Temple, trusted Ryotei as his "friend of the heart" and "friend of life." Until his death on January 6, 1938, at the age of 88, Ryotei vigorously carried out missionary work and toured various places.
