A single stroke.
A living
presence.
Ink, water, breath. Original serpent paintings from a tradition passed from teacher to student, and grandfather to grandson.
Original paintings · $750 each
Many forms.
One living movement.
Serpents from the original site: solitary, entwined, reaching between heaven and earth. These historical examples show the range of the practice; your commission will be a new work.
Explore the painting gallery & lineage ↗
A serpent held
in a brushstroke.
The movement of ink across paper. The meeting of form and emptiness.
I learned the single brush stroke serpent tradition from my grandfather, Roshi Daiensai Richard Kirsten, who received it from the Yamabushi priest Kendo Kano. I am not a Yamabushi priest; I carry forward this particular painting tradition.
In this tradition, the serpent is a guardian: an image associated with protection, good fortune, and the hidden treasures of the earth. These meanings live in the folklore and practice surrounding the paintings.
Before painting, I chant the Heart Sutra. I use water gathered from springs and paint while the Moon or Sun is in the constellation Serpens. Each serpent takes its own form in the movement of the brush.
— Dorje Kirsten
A practice
passed by hand.
My grandfather, Richard Daiensai Kirsten, passed this painting tradition to me and gave me the Zen name Shinno, meaning “heart king.” He encouraged me to preserve it by “spreading the sacred serpent paintings everywhere.”
The work continues through the brush: a practice received, lived with, and offered onward.
The treasure.
The mirror.
Two serpents consider whether to reveal a hidden source of gold to humankind. The younger fears that gold will darken people’s hearts and bring harm to the world.
The elder answers that gold does not create that darkness. It is a mirror, revealing the character of the person who holds it.
“When serpents unveil a wealth of hidden treasure to you, remember it is a mirror.”
What matters is how we use what comes into our hands: to benefit others, or to hoard and harm.
Adapted from Dorje Kirsten’s original “A Tale of Two Serpents.”
Painting
Vital Spirit.
How does a brushstroke become a living presence?
Step inside the practice with Dorje: the open space of the blank page, the movement of ink, and the serpent taking form. This presentation explores the meditation and symbolism that give these paintings their meaning.
Explore Painting Vital Spirit ↗
View the presentation here on the site, at your own pace.
EXAMPLE PAINTING · ALL WORKS ARE ON WHITE PAPER
Your own
serpent painting.
Commission an original ink painting, signed and stamped by Dorje Kirsten. Choose a vertical or horizontal composition and dimensions that suit your space.
$750 USD · $25 U.S. SHIPPING
- Original Sumi-e ink painting on flat white paper
- Marked with the Asian zodiac year in which it is painted
- Your choice of size: short side up to 20″, long side up to 30″
Ships within one week · $25 U.S. shipping · International shipping by quote.
A personal way to collect.
Begin with an original.
Choose your orientation and dimensions, then order your original painting for $750 plus shipping.
Made for your space.
Dorje creates a new serpent painting for your commission. Each work is unique; the photograph here is an example.
Make space for the work.
Your commission ships within one week of your order, protected in a mailing tube. U.S. shipping is $25; international shipping is arranged by quote.
Before you collect.
Will I receive the painting shown here?
The photograph is an example. Your order commissions a new, unique serpent painting.
Can I request a particular size?
Yes. Choose horizontal or vertical and enter your dimensions in inches. The shorter side can be up to 20 inches, and the longer side up to 30 inches.
Can I combine a painting with an astrology reading?
You can ask Dorje about combining your commission with an astrology reading. Contact Dorje to discuss the current options.
What about shipping and returns?
Your painting ships within one week of ordering, rolled in a protective 24-inch mailing tube. U.S. shipping is $25 per painting. International collectors: contact Dorje before ordering for a shipping quote and special fee instructions. Transit time depends on the destination. Contact Dorje about returns before purchasing.