TOUHAKU GASETSU　等伯画説

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Touhaku's Explanation of Painting, comments of the Momoyama period painter Hasegawa Touhaku 長谷川等伯 (1539-1610) on well-known Chinese and Japanese painters, paintings and techniques. It is known as the first essay by a painter in Japan. The inscription says that around 1592 priest Nittsuu 日通 of Honpouji 本法寺, Kyoto, recorded Touhaku's statements on painting, and later they were compiled randomly in a small bound book. The original text is still owned by Honpouji. Although the book is commonly known as TOUHAKU GASETSU, the original title reads "Comments on Painting: Record of what Hasegawa Touhaku told" Ga no setsu: Hasegawa Touhaku monogatari kore-wo kisu 画之説:長谷川等伯物語記之. The work discusses nearly 50 Chinese and Japanese painters including Liang Kai (Jp: Ryoukai 梁楷, act. early 13c), Muqi (Jp: Mokkei 牧谿, act. late 13c), Yujian (Jp: Gyokkan 玉澗, act. late 13c ; see *sougenga 宋元画) as well as Mokuan 黙庵 (died in China around 1345), Nouami 能阿弥 (1397-1471) and Souami 相阿弥 (?-1525 ; see *Amiha 阿弥派). In particular Touhaku paid special attention to the lineage of Josetsu 如拙 (act. early 15c), Shuubun 周文 (act. first half of 15c), and Sesshuu 雪舟 (1420-1506) and his followers, the lineage into which Touhaku placed himself. The text is translated into English by Michael Cunningham in the appendix to his unpublished dissertation "Unkoku Tougan 雲谷等顔" (University of Chicago).

REFERENCES:

*Hasegawaha 長谷川派

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