Kanzan (Han Shan) and Jittoku (Shi De) are iconic figures in East Asian art—two legendary, ragged Zen monks often depicted laughing uproariously at a cosmic joke. Kanzan, the reclusive poet, is typically shown holding a scroll, while Jittoku, the temple janitor, carries a twig broom.
Because these figures are intrinsically linked to Zen Buddhism, their depictions are deeply tied to the tradition of Zenga (Zen painting), a discipline where the practice of calligraphy and painting are considered the exact same meditative act.