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

This work, consisting of nine panels, used to decorate the wall behind the altar of Tenkyu-in Temple’s living quarters. Each painting was peeled off the wall and preserved in that manner for many years until the complete work came into the National Museum’s possession and was restored to its present form several years ago. There are many theories as to who the painter was. However, comparison to a contemporary painting of a pine by Kano Sansetsu (1581-1651) housed in Keishun-in Temple suggests that the magnificent depiction of the old pine in this painting is in the style of Sansetsu’s father-in-law/master, Kano Sanraku (1559-1635).