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A Game of Go, from the Four Accomplishments

Kano school

A Game of Go, from the Four Accomplishments exhibition

A Game of Go, from the Four Accomplishments

High-resolution facsimiles

Material
printed, gold on washi paper
Period of creation
Tsuzuri Project Stage 1 2007–2008
Recipient
Hanazono University

Original

Artist
Kano school
Historical era
Azuchi-Momoyama (Early 16th century)
Material
ink, color and gold on washi paper
Medium
Four sliding doors
Size
Each door H174.0 × W139.7 cm
Collection
Seattle Art Museum

Description

These four sliding doors are part of a collection of 71 doors originally housed in the abbot‘s chamber at Ryoan-ji Temple. In the late 19th century, Ryoan-ji was in dire economic condition after the government confiscated much of its property during the movement to abolish Buddhism from Japan. The doors were sold to Ito Denemon, a coal mining mogul from Fukuoka prefecture. Ito kept the sliding doors in his residence, known as the Akagane Palace which later burned down in a fire caused by an electrical leakage. Luckily, the doors were kept in the priests‘ living quarters and survived this disaster. The incident led to the second relinquishment of these doors. No information exists as to what happened to the doors between 1951 and 1952. Only 21 are known to exist today: four doors depicting Liezi Rides the Wind, owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (includes depictions of ancient Chinese people drawn on the reverse side); the four doors shown here, A Game of Go, from the Four Accomplishments, owned by the Seattle Art Museum; and nine doors depicting Basho, owned by Robert Sowers, a British arts dealer (purchased from an antique art dealer in Kyoto). If one considers the time at which these doors were housed in Ryoan-ji, contrast between the simplicity of a dry landscape rock garden and the Kano school artist‘s dazzling use of brilliant colors on gold background become observable. These aspects can be considered representative of typical Zen culture.

How the Works Are Created

How the Works Are Created

This section introduces the production process of high resolution facsimiles by combining Canon’s latest imaging technology and the authentic craftsmanship of Kyoto in the Tsuzuri Project.

About the Tsuzuri Project

About the Tsuzuri Project

This section shares the significance and passion behind the Tsuzuri Project and how we utilize the high resolution facsimiles of precious cultural assets, which are designated as national treasures and important cultural assets, and Japanese artworks that have left Japan.