Dragon-Riding Kannon, Wild Horses and Cattle

Written in the hand of Tan’yu Kanō

Early Edo period (17th century)

Tangible Cultural Property, designated by Sakata city

Donated by the Homma family

Tan’yu Kanō created this triptych during the later years of his life, some time after he turned 61 and had been awarded the rank of Hōin (the highest rank for a painter). 

All three works were painted primarily in light ink washes, with a beauty and poetry by their use of negative space. This style of painting was adopted by subsequent generations of Kanō school painters as the ‘Edo Kanō style.’ 

It is said that the Homma family received this painting in 1802 from Yōzan Uesugi, the 9th daimyō of Yonezawa Domain in Dewa Province (modern-day Yamagata Prefecture).