Byakue Kannon (Avalokitesvara in a White Robe)

Kichizan Minchō painted many Zen Buddhism pictures and ink paintings mainly during O’ei era (1394–1428). There are quite a few numbers of Kannon in white robes sitting quietly in meditation on a rock because this motif was upheld as the ideal of ultimate Zen meditation. In the lower right corner are Minchō’s seal and signature, with a note stating that the painting was done when he was 74 years old. This is thought to be the baseline work of Minchō.