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

The tension in this composition―the large tree executed in an almost dry brush, the snow covering the branches delineated in gofun ("shell white," calcium-carbonate pigment), and the birds enduring the cold against the vast background in gold―is characteristic of Momoyama ink paintings. The subtle touches of crimson plum blossoms and green moss reflected against the sumptuous gold ground also exemplify painting techniques of the era. Tradition has it that this series of sliding door panels was painted by Unkoku Togan (1547-1618) for Najima Castle, which was constructed in Chikuzen Province (today Fukuoka prefecture) in 1588-1589 (Tensho 16-17) by Kobayakawa Takakage (1533-1597), uncle to Togan's patron, Mori Terumoto (1553-1625). The paintings subsequently came into the possession of the Kuroda clan when warlord Kuroda Nagamasa (1568-1623) took over the castle.