Priest Daidō Ichii (1289-1370) was born in Izumo (today's Shimane prefecture). He became the 28th abbot of Tōfuku-ji temple and later the 31st abbot of Nanzen-ji temple. Later on, he founded Ankoku-ji temple in Awaji. Among his disciples in Ankoku-ji temple, Kissan Minchō (1352-1431) is well known. Minchō became a Buddhist artist and at the same time was in charge of the Butsuden hall in Tōfuku-ji temple.
The inscription at the top of this portrait is by Priest Shōkai Reiken who was the 43rd abbot of Tōfuku-ji temple. According to the inscription, Priest Shōkai Reiken apparently wrote the inscription on the request of the feudal lord of Awaji, Hosokawa Mitsuharu, in 1394. Judging from the painting style and the historical background, the artist who painted this portrait must have been Minchō. This portrait is not an object for worship services. It describes Priest Daidō Ichii and his character, who is said to have taught Buddhist ideas even to animals. The priest, who is seated on a rock seat under a pine tree, and a white bird and a deer attending the priest are drawn with lively brush strokes and shadings.
Masterpieces of Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1993, p.67, no.50.
Important Cultural Property
Portrait of the Priest Daidō Ichii
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
H 47.0, W 16.2
Muromachi period
14th century
Meitoku 5

- D022583

- D022583
- 1999/06/10

- D009139
- 1994/01/31

- D003884
- 1992/04/22

- A025875
- 1999/06/10

- A024270
- 1992/04/22

- A020083

- A020084

- A020085

- A020086
More
Accession Number | 652-0 |
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Category | Paintings |
Artist, Maker or Writer | Attributed to Mincho (1352?1431) |
Bibliography | Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of the Nara National Museum: Buddhist Painting. Nara National Museum, 2002, 169p. (Japanese) Saints and Hermits: People in Serenity Deep in Nature. Nara National Museum, 1999, 242p. (Japanese) Masterpieces from the Collection of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1997, 350p. (Japanese) |