National Treasure Gallery: Cottage in a Shaded Valley
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Cottage in a Shaded Valley (detail)
Preface by Taihaku Shingen; other inscriptions by six monks including Daigaku Shūsū, Muromachi period, 1413 (National Treasure, Lent by Konchi'in Temple, Kyoto)Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 12
August 25, 2026 (Tue) - September 27, 2026 (Sun)This painting, the oldest surviving one of its kind, sheds light on Zen culture in Japan. 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 prominent monks brushed poems and messages above it. But the building depicted is not the actual study. It is an imaginary mountain retreat that symbolizes the Zen ideal of living in harmony with 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 | Preface by Taihaku Shingen; other inscriptions by six monks including Daigaku Shūsū | Muromachi period, 1413 | Lent by Konchi'in Temple, Kyoto |