The Zen Eccentric Xianzi left of a pair of Zhutou and Xianzi, late 15th-early 16th century, Y?getsu, Japanese, act. late 15th - early 16th c., 10 13/16 ¡Ñ 8 9/16 in. (27.46 ¡Ñ 21.75 cm) (image)47 3/8 ¡Ñ 14 7/16 in. (120.33 ¡Ñ 36.67 cm) (mount, without roller), Ink on paper, Japan, 15th-16th century, These paintings show two eccentric Chinese Zen priests, both of whom became famous for ignoring Zen restrictions on eating meat. Zhutou, at right, loved to eat boar meat and was known for carrying a boar head around town. His counterpart at left, Xianzi, was known to wander riverbanks eating clams, shrimp, and crayfish. Legend has it that Xianzi gained enlightenment while catching a shrimp, and this is the moment shown here. Despite their disregard for Zen monastic rules, such unruly priests were often held in high regard for following their own paths.