Shokei

JAPAN; Muromachi period

Shokei was a painter of landscapes as well as Buddhist and Daoist figures. His style resembled that of Tensho Shubun, the imperial painter of Shokokuji Temple in Kyoto, and also showed the influence of other Muromachi period (1392–1573) painters, including the monks Josetsu and Sesshu Toyo. During this time, there were several monks whose landscape paintings in ink incorporated the Zen style and became popular decorative works displayed at temples, thus serving as inspiration for the works of other painters.
Shokei’s landscapes adopted the composition of the Shubun style. In addition, he studied and employed the style of renowned monk and painter, Muxi from the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) in China, and was also influenced by the Chinese landscape paintings of Ma Lin and Sun Junze. His paintings were spacious and delicately drawn. When depicting figures, he used a variety of ink styles to appropriately portray the subject.
Works by Shokei include Hanshan and Shide, kept at the Tokugawa Art Museum in Aichi; and Budai and View of Lakes and Mountains, kept at the Kyoto National Museum; each painting is listed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.