Kitahama Fumon

Kitahama Fumon was a Japanese Zen monk and artist, active primarily in the regions of Kyoto, Nara, and Shikoku. He was known for finding enlightenment in everyday life and expressing his thoughts through simple words and depictions of wildflowers, which he often transformed into illustrated postcards.
He welcomed visitors with simplicity, serving tea accompanied by a candy on an apple crate used as a table. This lifestyle earned him the nickname "Ryōkan of the Shōwa era," referring to the famous monk-poet Ryōkan.
His works are appreciated for their simplicity and spiritual depth. An example is the book "Fumon`s Illustrated Postcards: Embraced by the Wind of Compassion", curated by Kita Katsuyo, which collects his illustrated postcards and offers insight into his artistic and spiritual world.
His philosophy of life was summarized in the motto: "暮らしは低く 思いは高く, kurashi ha hikuku omoi ha takaku" (Live humbly, think greatly).