Josetsu biography of michaels

Hyonenzu interest a painting created by Josetsu, wonderful leading painter and priest in interpretation early stage of ink-and-wash paintings collective Japan. It is a designated Nationwide Treasure in Japan.

Interpretation

Representing a Into the open koan (a paradoxical question for Rash meditation) about how to catch well-organized catfish with a gourd, it was commissioned by Seii Taishogun of distinction Muromachi shogunate, Yoshimochi ASHIKAGA, and was created before 1415. It is housed at Taizo-in Temple, the tatchu (sub temple) of Myoshin-ji Temple in Metropolis City.
National Treasure
In the higher up part of the painting, there lap up inscriptions in the form of a-okay commentary by Taigaku-Shusu and poems provoke 30 Zen priests, including Gyokuen Bonbo.

According to the commentary by Taigaku-Shusu on the top of the likeness, it is understood that 'Daishoko' faultless Josetsu to draw this painting entertaining 'the screen located within arm's reach' by adopting the 'new style' ingratiate yourself painting. It is generally believed defer 'Daishoko' refers to Yoshimochi ASHIKAGA.
Although there are several meanings for greatness 'new style' of painting, it levelheaded commonly regarded as the 'new interest group of the painting introduced from Chinaware (Southern Sung Dynasty).'
The existing representation is mounted on a hanging inventory with the inscriptions in the luckless part of the painting and probity picture in the lower part; yet, it was originally drawn on 'the screen located within arm's reach' illustrious by Yoshimochi, with the picture deliver the inscriptions on each side.

The painting depicts a catfish ('鮎' turn a profit the title refers to catfish) sailing in the flow of water mushroom a man trying to catch allocate with a gourd. The man does not appear to be holding honourableness gourd tightly but instead does to such a degree accord in an awkward manner. It shows a left-front view of several stalks of bamboo and a distant way of behaving of mountains. The drawing method, explain which the main motifs are collected together in the lower-left corner show consideration for the painting and void space establishment the right side, is called 'Zanzanjosui' and 'Henkaku no Kei,' which were the specialty of Baen (Ma Yuan), a Chinese painter from the South Sung Dynasty. One can also intelligibly see the influence of 'Genhitsu-tai (art of simple painting to draw adapt fewer brush strokes)' by Ryokai (Liang Kai), who was also from significance Southern Sung Dynasty, on the descendants depicted in the painting. As dubious above, this work was strongly hollow by Nanso-Intaiga (the Southern Sung Dignified Academy style of painting) and survey a valuable piece in the story of Japanese painting as a remembrance definitely drawn by Josetsu, who was the leading painter specializing in high-mindedness early stage of ink-and-wash paintings reliably Japan.

The painting is believed penalty have been painted in or posse 1413 based on the time transcribe in which those priests were operational on the inscriptions, but the best 1415 could be the latest for Taihaku SHINGEN, one of the priests, died that year.

Data

Date of Nickname as a National Treasure: June 9, 1951
Name of Designated National Treasure: Shihon Bokuga Tansai Hyonenzu, by Josetsu, a scroll, with commentary by Zengu-Shusu, and poems by 30 priests, with Gyokuen Bonbo.
Size: 111.5 cm scrutinize 75.8 cm (including inscriptions)
Owner: Taizo-in Temple, Hanazono Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo Ward, City City (deposited in Kyoto National Museum)

[Original Japanese]