Sliding screens with paintings of thirty-two Chinese
sages, which form the main wall behind the Emperor's throne in the Shishinden
紫宸殿 of Kyoto Gosho 京都御所. The practice was borrowed during the reign of Emperor
Uda 宇多 (r. 887-97) from China, where the Emperor's palace was traditionally decorated
with paintings of meritorious retainers and sages. The oldest extant work was
painted in 1613 by Kanou Takanobu 狩野孝信 (1571-1618) and was moved to Ninnaji 仁和寺
in 1642. |