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

This fan depicts a story about the master Chinese calligrapher, Wang Xizhi (303-361). The story tells how Wang Xizhi helped an old, destitute fan vendor, by writing calligraphy on her fans, causing their popularity to soar. This painting shows Wang Xizhi sitting by a big tree writing calligraphy with two children and the old woman; they are placed skillfully within the small, fan-shaped space. The inscription within the painting is by the priest Daigaku Shusu, while the inscription at the top of the painting is by the priest Isho Tokugan, dated 1403. These inscriptions prove that the picture was painted by Josetsu, used as a fan by Shusu, and mounted as a hanging scroll by Shusu's student, the priest Shikyo. This fan, with its simplified contour lines, is an excellent example of the genpitsu style (economized brush strokes) of ink painting, modeled after Liang Kai (n. d.), the Southern Song (1127-1279) Chinese master, whom Josetsu greatly admired.