Ko Fuyo

JAPAN, Yamanashi, Koshu; Edo period

Ko Fuyo, originally named Minamoto no Genmohyo and also known as Itsuki, was a Confucian scholar, seal engraver, and painter from Koshu, Yamanashi. He was close friends with Ike no Taiga and Tenju Kan when he was young, and the three of them traveled together to Mount Fuji. This excursion was thus known as Dosha Sangoku (Wayfarers of the Three Peaks).
Ko was adept in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and particularly, seal engraving. He collected various calligraphic works and studied ancient styles, often copying the calligraphy of Zhao Mengfu and Wen Zhengming. In addition, he studied the ancient seal collections of the early Chinese Qin (221–207 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220CE) dynasties, and incorporated the influence of Ming dynasty (1368–1644) seal engravers.
Also known as Kotai school, the Fuyo school of seal engraving was established by Ko. The school was prevalent in various areas and became the premiere school for seal engraving in Japan. He compiled four fascicles of Thousand Character Classic in Han Seal Script, one fascicle of Record of Ancient and Modern Times: Public and Private Seals, and Seal Collection of Kantankyo. His seal work entitled Monk Dosen is white-character square seal comprises of four characters that are evenly spaced and engraved with sharp skills and an antiquated essence.