Kao Ninga

JAPAN; Kamakura to Nanbokucho period

Kao Ninga was a painter who was active between the late Kamakura (1185–1333) and early Nanbokucho (1336–1392) periods in Chikugo (present day Fukuoka). Due to the appearance of “ga” at the end of his name, it is presumed that he was a Buddhist painter of the Takuma school, where “ga” was the common character among Dharma names. Some believe that he was Kao Sonen, a monk from Kenninji Temple in Kyoto who traveled to China during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).
He was skilled in creating ink paintings of Buddhist and Daoist figures. Influenced by the painting style of Mu Xi, he used dried ink to create vivid portrayals of figures, flowers, and birds. Alongside Mokuan Reien and Ryozen, he was fundamental in the establishment of the ink painting culture in Japan.
Among his masterpieces is Monk Kensu, kept at the Tokyo National Museum. Another work is Ascetic Sakyamuni, illustrating Sakyamuni Buddha descending the mountain, and kept at Rokuoin Temple in Kyoto. One of Kao’s later paintings, it was created with abbreviated outlines in a neat and conscientious style. Finches and Bamboo, currently kept in the Museum Yamato Bunkakan in Nara, is another example of Kao’s extant works. Each of the above are currently listed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. In addition, he painted a representation of Chan Master Hanshan using strong tonal contrast and thick brushstrokes. The piece is collected at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., USA.