Category:

Prefecturally Designated Tangible Cultural Property (Painting)

Title:

Gekko shobun osho chinzo

Ritual Portrait of Priest Gekko Shobun
月江正文和尚頂相

No. of features:

One scroll

Designated:

November 1, 1956

Location:

Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore (opens to new page)

4-219 Takahanacho, Omiya Ward

Owner:

The religious juridical person of Fumonin Temple

Description:

Gekko Shobun was a Zen priest at the start of the Muromachi period and the founder of Fumonin Temple.

Ritual portraits of Zen priests called “chinzo” were passed down from master to acolyte to indicate that the disciple had achieved spiritual awareness.  According to temple legend, this piece is a self-portrait by Gekko Shobun. 

The painting is 71 cm tall and 35.5 cm wide. In it, a figure wearing a priest’s stole is painted on coarse silk in rich color. Following the “chinzo” style, the subject sits on a large chair draped in a happi coat with his feet propped on a footrest. He holds a horsehair whisk in his right hand.

Gold paint is used throughout the piece, and the happi coat is meticulously painted with dragons, flowers, and other detailed patterns.

The materials, painting style, and coloration lead us to believe that this piece was created after the middle of the Muromachi period.

Associated Texts:

(1959). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol.1). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1965). “Cultural Properties in Omiya”. Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1986). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 2). Omiya Board of Education.

(1963). “Survey Report on Saitama Prefecture’s Designated Cultural Properties” (vol. 2). Saitama Prefectural Board of Education.

Please be courteous towards other visitors, locals, and the site’s owners/curators when visiting this cultural property. This cultural property’s availability may vary; for details, please contact the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/017/011/002/p000155.html