H x W (image): 74.5 × 29.6 cm (29 5/16 × 11 5/8 in)
Type:
Painting
Origin:
Japan
Date:
late 15th century
Period:
Muromachi period
Description:
Kitano Tenjin is turned slightly, departing from the formal, frontal pose typical of early representations of this subject. He is dressed as a Chinese scholar and holds the plum branch to one side in a relaxed gesture, and his facial expression is gentle and humane.
In an inscribed wooden storage box, which also contains two identically-inscribed pieces of light green paper and a white inscribed piece of paper.
Inscriptions:
In the upper corner is a poem that reads: "If there is sincerity of mind, even without prayers, the gods will provide protection."
Label:
This is an imagined portrait of Sugawara no Michizane (845–902), a scholar, courtier, and government official who is best remembered for his skill at composing poetry in Chinese. Dressed as a Chinese scholar and grasping a branch of flowering plum, Michizane dreams of traveling to China. Although Michizane was slandered by both political and academic rivals and died in exile, he was later deified as Tenjin (Heavenly Being) and worshipped by generations of aspiring poets, scholars, and calligraphers. Throughout Japan, people visit shrines to Tenjin on the twenty-fifth day of each month, but especially on February 25, celebrated as Tenjin's birthday, when the plum trees are in bloom.
Collection:
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History:
Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)
The Idea of China in Japan: The Tea Ceremony in Japan (December 19, 1999 to June 11, 2000)
Untitled Exhibition of Ceramics (March 31, 1994 to March 6, 1995)
Literary Themes in Japanese Art (February 13, 1986 to March 9, 1987)
