This shikishi art card titled “牛と牧童の図” (Ox and Shepherd Boy) by the artist 洋昭 (Yōshō) depicts a tranquil pastoral scene drawn with delicate brushwork and soft ink tones. A young boy rests peacefully on the back of a water buffalo, his fishing rod loosely held as the ox ambles through the reeds. The composition captures a quiet moment of harmony between human and nature, evoking a timeless sense of simplicity and contentment.
Above the scene, the calligraphy reads 「日々洗心」(hibi senshin) — “To cleanse the heart each day.” This Zen-inspired phrase reflects the idea of maintaining a pure and peaceful mind by letting go of worldly attachments and renewing one’s spirit daily.
The gentle brushstrokes, soft washes of ink, and speckled background give the work a wabi-sabi aesthetic, celebrating the beauty of imperfection and transience. The imagery of the boy and ox also recalls a classic Zen theme — the “Ten Ox-Herding Pictures” (Jūgyūzu), which symbolize stages of spiritual enlightenment and the return to simplicity after self-realization.
Through its balance of ink, space, and philosophy, this shikishi embodies the quiet grace of traditional Nihonga and the spiritual depth of Zen art, offering a poetic reminder to live with calm awareness and a cleansed heart.
