Haruki Seiko – 春木 西湖 (?-1853), Azuma Tōyō – 東東洋 (1755-1839), & Artist Not Yet Determined – Plum Blossoms, Hotei, Mt. Fuji & Pine – 梅、布袋、富士山、と 松

Paradise Bound On YouTube.

Azuma Tōyō was born in Tome City, Ishikoshimashi. His father was well educated and a minor painter of note. After the family moved when he was 5 or 6, he began studies at Shogakuji Temple. At the age of 9, he was under the tutelage of Nakayama Koyo, who excelled at poetry, painting and calligraphy and was one of the teachers of the great Tani Bunchō. At the age of 15, he was apprenticed to the local Kanō School painter, Kanō Baishō and at the age of 18, married one of his daughters and became his son-in-law. With Baishō, he travelled to Edō (now Tōkyō). His life took a sharp turn when he was 19 or 20, when he went to Kyōto to listen to the legendary Ike no Taiga lecture on the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”. It was this event that made him decide to move to Kyōto, where he kept a residence for the next half century, except for many travels abroad. It is the ancient belief among the literati painters that the more you read, practice and travel, -the better your art becomes. Tōyō’s skill and recognition continued to rise over the decades and he was chosen to help decorate Edo Castle as well as Sendai Castle (now Aoba), and has gone down in history as one of the “The Four Major Painters of Sendai” (tiger painting, this link).

Signed “Hōgen (a Buddhist title awarded to artists and craftsmen, which means – Seal of the Law) Tōyō, and sealed with a Hōju inkan (the ancient Buddhist jewel of wish fulfillment). The use of this rank safely places this piece as being post-1795. Tōyō’s pieces are held in numerous private and museum collections, including: Sendai City Museum (where they celebrated his 250th)/ Tokyo National Museum / Ninnaji Temple and Tohoku History Museum.

Haruki Seiko was the second son of Haruki Nanko and is also held in many museum and personal collections.

Fair condition (many creases, stains, flaking and small damages, -but still strong enough to appreciate). This scroll is mid-sized and easy to manage with limited wall space. This piece of ancient history may show its age, but its cultural value is beyond question. Plum trees are auspicious for overcoming adversity and being successful (because they bloom so early, sometimes in late winter snow). Hotei brings abundance, fortune and joy. Mt. Fuji, immortality, and pines are longevity, endurance and steadfastness.

22″ x 61″ – Comes with a sealed document of authenticity and hours worth of reading and documentary viewing. Price includes shipping worldwide! All prices in Canadian dollars.