Past Exhibitions
- Minchō and Other Painters of Tōfuku-ji
- December 19, 2017 - January 21, 2018
During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), the temple of Tōfuku-ji, counted as one of the gozan—the five great Rinzai Zen temples of Kyoto—was also home to many monk-painters working in distinctive styles. The most famous among them is Minchō (1352–1431). Born on the island of Awaji, he came to Kyoto at an early age and studied Zen under Daidō Ichii, the 28th chief priest of Tōfuku-ji, while producing Buddhist paintings and portraits for use at the temple. In his later years, he is thought to have mentored younger painters such as Reisai and Sekkyakushi as his disciples, who probably worked alongside Minchō in a studio within the temple grounds. This exhibition brings together masterworks by Minchō along with paintings done by his student Reisai.
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