Portrait of Priest Ikkyu
Data
| Artist | Attributed to Tosa Hirochika, Inscription by Jin-sh |
|---|---|
| Period | Muromachi period, 15th century |
| Materials and techniques | Hanging scroll, colour on silk |
| Size | 71.5×33.3 |
Explanation
There are many portrait paintings of Zen priest Ikkyū existing today, but not many like this in a circular frame. He is in formal attire of gorgeous gold-sprinkled clerical garment, but features well express the monk who denounced the frivolity and shallowness of the Zen world of his time. The inscription above written by Jinshi, a literary figure from Ningpo in Ming dynasty China, identifies that Ikkyū is an authentic monk of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.