Tenjin Traveling to China

late 16th century

Not on view

This abbreviated, strongly brushed depiction of Tenjin—the posthumously deified spirit of Heian-period statesman and poet Sugawara Michizane (845–903)—was created by the courtier, artist, and poet extolled for his calligraphy as one of the "Three Brushes of the Kan'ei period." Nobutada, who held several high-ranking court positions and was once exiled for political reasons, studied Zen under the abbot Takuan Sōhō (1573–1645) and was influenced by the spontaneous mode of painting practiced by Zen monks. He produced a number of ink paintings of Tenjin in a spare, powerful style characterized by an economy of brushwork and sketch-like quality. A near-duplicate of this particular version exists in the Manyo’an Collection in New Orleans.

The text, composed and inscribed by Nobutada, reads:

If just the heart is set on the path of truth,
even without prayers, will not gods protect me?
—Trans. Miyeko Murase

Artwork Details

近衛信尹筆渡唐天神図
Title: Tenjin Traveling to China
Artist: Konoe Nobutada (Japanese, 1565–1614)
Period: Momoyama period (1573–1615)
Date: late 16th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions: Image: 38 7/16 × 16 13/16 in. (97.7 × 42.7 cm)
Overall with mounting: 72 1/16 × 17 13/16 in. (183 × 45.3 cm)
Overall with knobs: 72 1/16 × 19 13/16 in. (183 × 50.4 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015
Object Number: 2015.300.72
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Konoe Nobutada

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A Song of Unending Sorrow (Chōgonka), Konoe Nobutada Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan — A Song of Unending Sorrow (Chōgonka)
Konoe Nobutada
early 17th century

Tenjin Crossing the Ocean to China (Tōtō Tenjin), Konoe Nobutada Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan — Tenjin Crossing the Ocean to China (Tōtō Tenjin)
Konoe Nobutada
1609

Poetry Screen (Waka Byobu): Six Poems by Women Poets

, Konoe Nobutada Japanese, Six-panel folding screen; ink on paper, Japan — Poetry Screen (Waka Byobu): Six Poems by Women Poets
Konoe Nobutada
early 17th century

Calligraphic Excerpts from The Tale of Genji, Konoe Nobutada Japanese, Folded album (orihon); ink on decorated paper, Japan — Calligraphic Excerpts from The Tale of Genji
Konoe Nobutada
17th century

Album of Japanese and Chinese Poems to Sing, Konoe Nobutada Japanese, Album of thirty-six leaves; each on gold, silver, or colored decorated paper, Japan — Album of Japanese and Chinese Poems to Sing
Konoe Nobutada
early 17th century

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