The Daoist Immortals Xiama and Tieguai

Tokyo National Museum is celebrating its 150th anniversary. During its long history, the Museum accumulated an extensive collection, including many artworks of great artistic or historical value. Not all these works, however, are designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. From among these works, our curators have selected what they consider "Future National Treasures" for display in this gallery in 2022.

The Daoist Immortals Xiama and Tieguai
By Sesson Shūkei
Muromachi period, 16th century

This pair of paintings show figures from Chinese legend: the immortals Xiama and Tieguai, who gained magic powers through their mastery of Daoism.
The artist who painted them was Sesson, an eccentric Japanese Zen monk who lived in the 1500s.
On the right, Tieguai appears in his typical guise ―a beggar in tattered clothes with a cane to support his limp leg. He projects his spirit from his mouth, which flies up and into the distance.
On the left, Xiama dances gleefully with his magical three-legged toad.
Originally, these paintings were likely mounted on the front and back of a free-standing screen. Judging from their signatures and seals, Sesson painted them in his 70s or 80s.