Statue of Saigyo

Saigyo (1118-90), a famous poetic monk from the late Heian period to the early Kamakura period, was known by his secular name, Sato Yoshikiyo. After entering the priesthood, he took the names En'i, Saigyo, and Daihobo. As a child, he served Emperor Toba as a northern warrior and excelled in martial arts and waka poetry. His travels throughout Japan over a period of roughly half a century are well known from the Tale of Saigyo, yet there are few old portraits of him. This painting, dating from the mid-Kamakura period, depicts the poet. His facial features are depicted as an elderly man with meticulous linework, suggesting a portrait of Saigyo in his later years. This is one of the finest portraits of Saigyo, and is characteristic of Kamakura-period caricatures. A waka poem by Saigyo is inscribed on a shikishi-gata (colored paper) in the upper right corner of the painting.

Let the colors of the moon purify your heart
I have never left the capital.