Tosa School / Schools of Nihonga 006

Tosa School

Tosa School is a school that continued from the early Muromachi period to the end of the Edo period. In style it inherits the tradition of the *yamato-e painting and is characterized by unconstrained lines and bright colors. Its genealogy can be traced to Fujiwarano Yukimitsu (active c. 1352-89), but the name Tosa came to be used after Yukihiro (active c. 1406-51). In 1469, Mitsunobu (dates unknown) was given charge of the edokoro (official bureau of painting) and established a leading position among the art circle. However, with the death of Mitsumoto in battle in 1569, Tosa School declined for sometime. Yet, its artistic style was maintained by his disciple Mitsuyoshi. In 1634, Mitsuyoshi’s son Mitsunori (1583-1638) moved to Kyoto with his son Mitsuoki (1617-91) and worked for the revival of the school. In 1654, Mitsuoki regained the position at the edokoro and Tosa School continued until the end of the Edo period.
Tosa School was devoted to yamato-e, paintings specializing in subject matter and techniques derived from ancient Japanese art, as opposed to schools influenced by Chinese art, namely the Kanou School. Tosa School paintings are characterised by “areas of flat opaque color enclosed by simple outlines, where drawing is precise and conventional,” with many narrative subjects from Japanese literature and history. However by the 17th century both Tosa and Kanou artists broadened their range, and the distinction between these and other schools became less clear.


*Yamato-e painting:
In the latter half of the 9th century, during the Heian period, as court culture became more Japanized, paintings depicting scenery characteristic of Japan began to appear in response to the demand for paintings that express Japanese sentiments. From about the end of the 10 th century, this kind of painting, inheriting the style of the Heian period, began to be called yamato-e, to distinguish it from the Chinese painting/Chinese-style painting (later known as kanga), or paintings with Chinese themes that were influenced by Song and Yuan painting styles. The style of the yamafo-e painting was transmitted through edokoro (official bureau of painting) which had been in charge of court paintings since the Heian period. When the Tosa family inherited the administration of the edokoro (the courtly office for paintings) in the Muromachi period, the word yamato-e began to be used to refer not only to themes and style, but also to the concepts of the Tosa School.

 

Sumiyoshi School

Sumiyoshi School is one of the yamato-e painting groups that separated from Tosa School in the Edo period. Tosa Hiromichi (renamed Joukei in 1661), who studied under Tosa Mitsuyoshi and who was ordered by Emperor Gosai in 1662 to take the surname of Sumiyoshi, is the founder of Sumiyoshi School. The name is said to have its origin in the artist Keinin of the Kamakura period, a distant ancestor who lived in Sumiyoshi. While Tosa School was a group of yamato-e painting school active in Kyoto, Sumiyoshi School became a major school to transmit yamato-e painting in Edo and was also active as a group of official artists of the shogunate.

Tosa School Artwork / Mitsunobu Tosa

Kiyomizu-dera Engi Emaki (The Picture Scroll of the Origin of Kiyomizu-dera Temple) / Mitsunobu Tosa

Tosa School Artwork / Mitsuoki Tosa

Genji Monogatari (the Tale of Genji) Ch20: Asagao (The Morning Glory) / Mitsuoki Tosa

Tosa School Artwork / Mitsuoki Tosa

Genji Monogatari (the Tale of Genji) Ch42: Nioumiya (The Perfumed Prince) / Mitsuoki Tosa

Tosa School Artwork / Mitsunari Tosa

Battle of Shimo-akasaka-jyou Castle / Mitsunari Tosa

Tosa School Artwork / Mitsunari Tosa

Chihaya Castle / Mitsunari Tosa

 

Contact Us

Please fill out the form below and submit for your inquiry.

❈FirstName
❈LastName
Country
❈E-mail
(❈Confirm E-mail)
❈Inquiry category Question
Consultation
Impression
Request
Others
❈Comment

is the mark for required item.

   

Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to protecting your privacy.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)

CEO Message

Our Feelings For Kakejiku


 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)
Company Profile
syaoku.jpg(120220 byte)

Name Art Nomura


President Tatsuji Nomura


Founded1973


Established1992


Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
Hyougo Prefecture, 655-0021, Japan



Capital10 million yen


URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com


Our Business

 Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.



(or press ESC or click the overlay)
Access Map

Access Map


 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)