Zheng Huangniu and Yushanzhu early 17th century Kano Naizen Zheng Huangniu, at right, and Yushanzhu, at left, were two legendary Chinese Chan (Japanese: Zen) monks often paired in Japanese painting beginning in the early Muromachi period. Zheng Huangniu (Japanese: Seigy), whose name means “Zheng of the Yellow Ox,” is known for riding a yellow ox to which he attached various objects, such as water jars and books. As is common in later Japanese examples, here Zheng rides his ox backwards. Yushanzhu (Japanese: Ikuzanshu, “Master of Mount Yu”) is said to have gained enlightenment when he fell off his donkey while riding across a bridge. The poetic inscriptions, rendered in a crisp and brusquely brushed style, are by Takuan Sh, one of the most influential Zen monks of his day. Right scroll:A man of the Waysits at ease, without a care,astride a yellow ox, detachedfrom the wind and dust of the world.He has left the hermitageof his garden,and from the ox’s horn hangs a sprigof peony from t