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

The pine, bamboo, and plum here represent an age-old auspicious theme that has continued to be painted. At the same time, because the trees grow vigorously even in the intense cold of winter, they have also been pictorialized as symbols and idealized images of men of noble character and officials, who endure the corruption and problems of the world. This present work is recognized as the oldest example of this theme and produced around the time of the masterpiece Catching a Catfish with a Gourd. Five Zen priets brushed inscriptions above the image. Among them, all except one, Gakurin Shosu, also inscribed Catching a Catfish with a Gourd. The deep black ink and solemn ambience are impressive.