Zen, Tea and Chinese Art in Medieval Japan Through June 14 at the Freer Gallery of Art, Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW (Metro: Smithsonian). 202-633-1000. www.asia.si.edu .

Essential Chan Buddhism: The Character and Spirit of Chinese Zen Guo Jun. Monkfish (Consortium, dist.), $16.95 (192p) ISBN 978-0-9833589-1-6 ...

His Zen monks and Luohan characters are often unconventional, mostly cloaked, cynical and naturally wild, as if they were laughing and cursing, but also seemingly absurd.

Zen Garden of Kyoto Ralph Howald, iStockphoto. ... visitors have discerned images as diverse as a tigress escorting her cubs across water and the Chinese character for "heart" or "mind." ...