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

Orchids painted with suiboku (sumi and water), like this painting, are called bokuran (sumi-orchid). It is thought to have been developed by the cultured people in the late Northern Song period, along with bokuchiku (sumi-bamboo) and bokubai (sumi-plum). The title Rankeidouhou (literally, both ran and kei are sweet-scented) came from the use of the phrase as a metaphor for people with excellent natural qualities because of the fragrance of both ran (spring orchid) and kei (autumn orchid). Bonbou (1348–1420-?) is a distinguished monk who served as the head of Kennin-ji (Kennin Temple) and Nanzen-ji (Nanzen Temple) successively. He preferred the lifestyle of literati, and painted bokuran often. The major feature of his pieces is the abstract beauty of the curves of orchid leaves.