Kannon on a Lotus Petal

Painting by Shōzan Gen’yō 照山元瑶 Japanese
 Inscription by Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) 隱元隆琦 Chinese
 Inscription by Muan Xingtao (Mokuan Shōtō) Chinese

Not on view

This painting of Guanyin (Kannon, in Japan) encapsulates the remarkable history of the Ōbaku school of Zen, which was brought from China to Japan in the seventeenth century. The school’s religious and political influence would grow to hold sway even in the imperial palace in Kyoto. The painting is by an imperial princess, daughter of the highly cultured and spiritually inclined Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Genyō trained in Zen teachings and meditation practice in her youth, and then encouraged her father to support Ingen and his Ōbaku sect. The two inscriptions on this painting are by Yinyuan (on the left) and his top pupil Muan.

Kannon on a Lotus Petal, Painting by Shōzan Gen’yō 照山元瑶 (Japanese, 1634–1727), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Kannon on a Lotus Petal, Painting by Shōzan Gen’yō 照山元瑶 (Japanese, 1634–1727), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
Kannon on a Lotus Petal, Painting by Shōzan Gen’yō 照山元瑶 (Japanese, 1634–1727), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.