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

Although Saizan is recorded in the Kundaikansochoki of the Muromachi period as a painter in the Yuan period, the details are unknown. This picture depicts Rakan (lohan) sitting on a rock while leaning a cane against his shoulder. A seal of "Saizan" is hidden in the rock on which Rakan is sitting. It seems that this was originally included in a set of 16 Rakan paintings and there currently exists another similar Rakan painting. The representation of Rakan as an old bony man in this picture demonstrates Saizan's unique painting style, which exudes a bizarre atmosphere common to the Ganki school of the same period. According to the inscription by Ashikaga Tadayoshi in the bottom-right corner of the picture ("奉三宝弟子右兵衛督源直義捨入"), this was dedicated to the Kongosanmaiin Temple on Mt. Koya by Ashikaga Tadayoshi in 1346.