Sesshū Tōyō

Infobox Buddhist biography
name = Sesshū Tōyō


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img_capt = Shukei-sansui (Autumn Landscape), by Sesshu Toyo
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birth_date = 1420
birth_place = Bitchū, Japan
death_date = 1506
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school = Rinzai
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title = suibokuga master
Zen Master
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nihongo|Sesshū Tōyō|雪舟 等楊|lit.: snow boat or often also simply Sesshū, 1420-1506, was one of the most prominent masters of "suibokuga" (ink painting), and a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest. Although born into the samurai Ōta clan, he is famous for his mastery of Chinese-style ink painting.Appert, Georges. (1888). [http://books.google.com/books?id=HYc_AAAAMAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=ancien+japon&source=gbs_summary_r#PPA80,M1 "Ancien Japon," p. 80.] ] He established an individual identity as a painter.

Ōta clan genealogy

The Ōta clan originated in 15th century Musashi province.Appert, [http://books.google.com/books?id=CSUNAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=ancien+japon+georges+appert&lr=#PPA76,M1 "Ancien Japon," p. 76.] ] They claimed descent from Minamoto Yorimasa, and through that branch of the Minamoto they claimed kinship with the Seiwa-Genji.Papinot, Jacques. (2003). [http://www.unterstein.net/Toyoashihara-no-Chiaki-Nagaioaki-no-Mitsuho-no-Kuni/NobiliaireJapon.pdf "Nobiliare du Japon" -- Ōta, pp. 48;] Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). "Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon." (in French/German).]

The feudal progenator of the clan name, Ōta Sukekuni, established himself at Ōta in Tamba province, and he adopted this location name as his own. He traced his lineage as a 5th generation descendant of Yorimasa. [see above] ]

In a special context created by the Tokugawa shogunate, the Ōta clan were identified as "tozama" or outsiders, in contrast with the "fudai" or insider "daimyō" clans which were hereditary vassels or allies of the Tokugawas. [see above] ]

In, 1638, Ōta Sukemune, the grandson of Ōta Yasusuke, was granted Nishio Domain in Mikawa province; and then, in 1645, he and his family was transferred to Hamamatsu Domain (35,000 "koku") in Tōtōmi province. Yasusuke's descendants were moved several times by shogunate decree, residing successively in 1687 at Tanaka Domain in Suruga province, in 1703 at Tanakura Domain in Mutsu province, and in 1728 at Tatebayashi Domain in Kōzuke province. [see above] ] Then, in the period spanning the years 1746 through 1868, this branch of the Ōta clan established itself at Kakegawa Domain (53,000 "koku") [Papinot, [http://www.unterstein.net/Toyoashihara-no-Chiaki-Nagaioaki-no-Mitsuho-no-Kuni/NobiliaireJapon.pdf p. 48.] ] in Tōtōmi. [see above] ]

The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period. [see above] ]

Career

Sesshū was born in Bitchū, present-day Okayama Prefecture. He studied Zen in his youth at Hōfuku-ji located in Sōja City, Okayama. Later moving to Shōkoku-ji in Kyoto, he continued to study Zen, and learned painting from Shūbun as well. Sesshū studied in Ming (China) for some years in the 1460s. After returning to Japan in 1469, he built an atelier in Yamaguchi Prefecture, named nihongo|"Unkoku-an"|雲谷庵|. [see above] ] This became the base from which he traveled around Japan. It is generally believed that he based his activities in the atelier for most of his later life.Cite web|url=http://www.city.soja.okayama.jp/kanko/kankochi/sesshu500.jsp|title=雪舟没後５００年顕彰 (500th memorial of Sesshū's death)|accessdate=2007-04-18|publisher=City of Soja|language=Japanese] Some believe that he died on August 8, 1506, though precisely where still remains unknown. [see above] ]

Paintings

There are six paintings, which are widely confirmed to be works by Sesshū, designated as National Treasures in Japan. Besides these, there are numerous other works attributed to him, with some varied views among experts. Those most influenced by his approach to painting are said to be the "School of Sesshū" or the "Unkoku-rin" School." [Appert, [http://books.google.com/books?id=HYc_AAAAMAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=ancien+japon&source=gbs_summary_r#PPA3,M1 p. 3] -4.]

Some of his works existing today reside in:
*The Freer Gallery, Washington, D.C.
*The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Mass.
*The National Museum of TokyoCite web|url=http://www.emuseum.jp/cgi/pkihon.cgi?SyoID=2&ID=w056&SubID=s000|title=Landscape with ink broken|accessdate=2007-04-18|publisher=Tokyo National Museum]

ee also

*Shūbun
*Buddhism in Japan
*List of Rinzai Buddhists

Notes

References

* Appert, Georges and H. Kinoshita. (1888). [http://books.google.com/books?id=HYc_AAAAMAAJ&dq=ancien+japon&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0 "Ancien Japon."] Tokyo: Imprimerie Kokubunsha.
* Papinot, Jacques Edmund Joseph. (1906) "Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du japon." Tokyo: Librarie Sansaisha. [http://www.unterstein.net/Toyoashihara-no-Chiaki-Nagaioaki-no-Mitsuho-no-Kuni/NobiliaireJapon.pdf ..Click link for digitized 1906 "Nobiliaire du japon" (2003)]

External links

** Yomiuri Shimbun: [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080628TDY01306.htm Sesshū -- slightly less than 90% name recognition amongst primary school students in Japan] , 2008.