Cottage in a Shaded Valley; Foreword by Taihaku Shingen; Other inscriptions by six Zen monks including Daigaku Shūsū
-
Cottage in a Shaded Valley (detail), Foreword by Taihaku Shingen Other inscriptions by six Zen monks including Daigaku Shūsū, Muromachi period, 1413 (National Treasure, Lent by Konchi'in Temple, Kyoto)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
May 9, 2023 (Tue) - June 4, 2023 (Sun)Paintings inscribed with poetry were popular among Zen monks in Japan. The one here, dating to 1413, is one of the oldest in existence and sheds light on Zen communities in Kyoto.
The Zen monk Shihaku of Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto built a study for himself around the year 1413. To celebrate this occasion, his friend painted this picture, while famous monks brushed poems and messages above it. But the building portrayed is not the actual study. It is an imaginary mountain cottage that represents the Zen ideal of living alone in nature, far from the bustle of the world.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | Cottage in a Shaded Valley | Foreword by Taihaku Shingen Other inscriptions by six Zen monks including Daigaku Shūsū | Muromachi period, 1413 | Lent by Konchi'in Temple, Kyoto |