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

Unkoku Tôgan is one of the representative painters of the art world in the latter half of the Momoyama period. He served Môri Terumoto, reconstructed the Unkoku hermitage of Sesshû, a historic site (in Yamaguchi), on orders from his master, and advocated the Sesshû school. His painting lineage held large effects on the societies of painters through the Chûgoku area to Kita Kyûshû, throughout the Edo period. This is one of Tôgan's masterpieces and reported to have been originally owned by the Masuda clan in Iwami. Sesshû-style motifs such as rocky mountains, houses and ships at anchor are found here and there; his characteristics are clearly seen in the systematic composition and gentle and peaceful scenery.