National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Shounju (1596 to 1673) was born in Wuhu, Anhui Province and is known as a unique bunjinga (lit. literati painting) artist who was active from the end of the Ming period to the early Ching period. Based on the painting style of the Woo school represented by Bunchomin in Suzhou Province, he created novel paintings while incorporating the otherworldly fantastic style established after Tokisho. This picture is innovative and interesting also as a genre picture. It used to be possessed by Emperor Qianlong of the Ching Dynasty.