The Ten Ox-herding Pictures

The Ten Ox-herding Pictures, Jūgyūzu (十牛図), tell the story of a herdsman who searches for a lost ox, finds it, tames it and rides it home, until both the ox and the herdsman vanish into emptiness and he returns to the world to help others. The ox is the true nature of the mind. The set, with poems by the twelfth-century Chinese master Kuoan Shiyuan, became one of the best-known teachings of Zen in Japan.

The ten stages

Stage Image
1 Searching for the ox
2 Finding the tracks
3 Glimpsing the ox
4 Catching the ox
5 Taming the ox
6 Riding the ox home
7 The ox forgotten, the herdsman remains
8 Both ox and herdsman forgotten: an empty circle
9 Returning to the origin: the natural world as it is
10 Entering the market with open hands

Reading the sequence

The first six stages describe effort: discipline, struggle and gradual mastery. The seventh and eighth dissolve the distinction between the seeker and what is sought, and the eighth is shown as an empty ensō. The ninth shows a tree, a stream and flowers, simply as they are. In the tenth, the awakened one walks into town, often pictured as a pot-bellied figure like Hotei, bringing joy to ordinary people. Awakening, the pictures say, ends not in withdrawal but in compassion.

In Japanese art

A set of ten small circular paintings in Shōkokuji in Kyoto, attributed to the fifteenth-century painter-monk Shūbun, is the classic Japanese version. Later Zen painters and printmakers made many sets, and single scenes, especially the herdsman riding home playing a flute, are popular subjects of ink painting.

Collecting notes

  • Complete painted sets are rare. Single scenes, woodblock-printed books and modern sets are the usual forms.
  • An ox in ink by a Zen monk is often a reference to these pictures, even without the full sequence.

In the collection

Browse scrolls and paintings. Our collector concierge can search Japan for ox-herding paintings.

See also

Submit Your Case File

Every bespoke partnership begins with clarity. Tell us what you seek, what inspired you, and the boundaries of your project.


What Happens After You Submit

Your Case File is reviewed personally by a senior advisor. We examine your objectives, logistics requirements, cultural considerations, and practical constraints. You will receive a tailored proposal outlining recommended services, timelines, and all applicable fees.

  • Bespoke service design tailored to your specific needs
  • Museum-grade logistics for art, antiques, fashion, and collectibles
  • Transparent partnership with no hidden or surprise costs

“All fees, deposits, and retainers will be clearly presented for approval before any work begins.”

Your Case File

Please complete the form carefully. The more precise your information, the more accurately we can prepare your assessment.

All fields are required to submit this form.

Kindly allow us a brief moment to review your submission. A senior advisor will be in touch with your personalised next steps.

Thank you for entrusting us with your vision. We look forward to representing you with precision and discretion.