Itsuzan Mokuin

JAPAN, Osaka; Edo period

Itsuzan Mokuin was a calligrapher, seal engraver, and monk from Osaka. He had an original name of Morimoto Shurai, and was also known as Josoku Dojin or Shozo. He studied the art of seal engraving under Mosho Niioki and Kagaku Maki, specializing in the seal script. A diligent art student and researcher, the seals he carved were of his own distinct style. He also learned the painting style of the Shinnanpin school in Nagasaki and was skilled in depicting flowers, birds, and bamboos in ink.
After his renunciation, Itsuzan resided at Kenyuji Temple in Osaka, later relocating to Nishibayashian Temple in Kyoto. Collection of Annotations by Zhao Huanguan influenced him to begin researching and writing books about different seal scripts. His seal engraving works include a red-character square seal, Shozo Also Known As Shurai. His written works include Shurai Seal Collection, Kinsenfu Seal Collection, Analects in Seal Script, and Comparison of the Thousand Character Classics.