A classic renditions of the Bodhidharma (more commonly known as the Daruma in Japan), this scroll from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) depicts the legendary monk who famously introduced Buddhism to China. Originally from India, he is said to have traveled across the Himalayas on foot to share the wisdom and knowledge from his studies of meditation which later spread to Japan, Korea, and other parts of the world...

An Kamakura period Enso-ga in cream-colored patterned brocade with maple brown extensions and featuring rosewood rollers signed Renshabo. Renshabo was a high ranking samurai named Jiro Naozane and confidant of 13th century General Minamoto no Yoritomo...

The character Take (bamboo) is struck with six brisk strokes of dark ink on this Chagake tea scroll signed Mitsuhiro (Karasuma Mitsuhiro, 1578-1638) and dated 1631. The calligraphy is exquisite. Mitsuhiro was born the son of Karasuma Mitsunobu (1543-1606) and, like his auspicious father, was a well known poet and songwriter accomplished in calligraphy...

AN OLD JAPANESE PAINTING OF MONJU BOSATSU.

Monju Bosatsu - Manjushri Bodhisattva of Wisdom. The painting appears to have great age and even though not in the best of condition it still has a compelling presence. It is painted on a composite sheet of thin paper, the joins can be seen as angled lines across the sheet and mounted as a kakemono. The painting is signed with a single seal impression in gold.

The painted area is approximately 106cm by 40.5cm...

A group of samurai won a victory in a battle. Hanging scroll Circa Edo period, 17th century. Painted on paper with ink and pigments. The samurai on the far right is holding a stand with the head of their enemy’s general. In Japanese history the enemy's head was to prove the samurai's feat in a war. If the opponent defeated was in a higher position, the better rewarded. There is an inscription on the scroll reads Tosa Mitsuoki hitsu, means painted by Tosa Mitsuoki...

Splendid and majestic Japanese landscape painting showing a pavillion with a large scholar's rock and pine tree. Scroll contains a signature attributing to Sesshu Toyo but may have been added later. Age: Momoyama Period. Size: Scroll: Height: 74.25" Width: 18.3" (with roller ends): 20.5"

Zen triptych scroll by Sesson Shukei (1504?-1589) The set of three are paintings of a radish and nappa cabbage with Lao Tzu riding a bull as its centerpiece. Scroll set comes with a box with paper labels naming the object and figure in the painting. One label reads that one of the Kano Eisen (the first or second) had provided an opinion, but the orignal document does not exist anymore. Age: Late Muromachi 16th century. Size (for all three approx.) Height: 74.25" Width: 18.3" (with ends): 20.5"

A male dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting...

A female dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting...

An impressive Japanese Soto zen calligraphy by the noted calligrapher, Gesshu Soko (1617-1696). Gesshu was known for his research and interpretation on Dogen's work, Shobogenzo (The Treasury of the Dharma Eye). The calligraphy is a famous zen phrase which translate as: The moon reflected on the water while the breeze amidst the pines blow in this eternal evening. What is the cause or purpose on this pure twilight...

An exquisite bird and flower painting features a Java sparrow rests on a branch in resurrection lily. Circa early Edo period, early 17th Century. This delicate painting is executed on paper with ink and pigments. The both Java sparrow and the flower are not native to Japan, but they were imported as early as 17th century from China, when the artist was a official painter to the Tokugawa shogunate...

Hanging scroll with image of the descent of the Buddha to welcome the souls of the deceased and accompany them to the Western Paradise. He is standing on a lotus on clouds and holds his hand in gebon josho. The mudra is the appropriate level for common citizens to be reborn in. Mineral colors and gold on silk. The garment exquisitely decorated in gold. Japan, late Muromachi or early Edo period, 16th century.
Image: 38 ¼ X 15 ¾ inches...

Antique Japanese scrol painting of a landscape with boat. The water is very still and the moon is high over a mountain in the distance. A flock of geese swoops down from the sky on the right. On the far left, an outcropping of rocks partially obscures some rural houses. A willow tree drapes itself outward over the water. With signed tomobako. Signed Tan'yu and with the seal of his given name Moninobu. Certified by Eitoku, his grandfather. Kano Tan'yu (1602-1674) was one of the foremost...

Antique Japanese Buddhist Womb of the World Mandala Scroll Painting. Dated early 18th century with temple in Kyoto. Central figure of Buddha immediately surrounded by eight immortal attendants. Rows of attendants repeating on surface of painting. Painted in mineral colors and gold ink on silk. Mounted as a scroll with a light blue silk border and copper ends.

Dimensions: 58 ½” x 84” overall, 50” x 54” painting only

Antique Japanese Scroll of Two Quails amidst chrysanthemum flowers, painted with a delicate painterly touch. Signed and sealed by Tosa Mitsuoki (光起) (1617-1691). In 1654, Mitsuoki won back the position of edokoro-azukari for the family, which enabled him to revive the school.Mitsuoki rejuvenated the traditional Tosa style by introducing elements from Chinese painting. He is particularly noted for his elegant paintings of quail, as for example, the Chrysanthemum and Quail screens which he...

A fine example of Edo period Kano painting, this generously proportioned hanging scroll illustrates a late autumn scene from the Japanese countryside over 300 years ago. The poem on the scroll reads:

Solitary, with the color, of nothingness
A close to autumn, on a ring of mountaintops

The painter, Minenobu Kano (1662 - 1708), was greatly admired by the Ienobu Tokugawa shogunate who eventually promoted him to the position of inner-court artist. As a result...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of Buddha Amitābha also known simply as Amida Buddha and two Bodhisattva attendants: Sanzon Bosatsu (with both hands holding a lotus blossom) and Seishi Raigo Bosatsu (with hands in gassho adoration mudra). The central figure, Amida Nyorai stands with each foot on a lotus blossom, floating on swirling clouds as he descents. His hands are in vitarka mudra, also known as Raikō gesture of welcoming souls to Paradise (Jōdō or Sukhavati in Sanskrit). Golden rays...

Third son of the director of the Kano School of painting, Yasunobu was appointed head of the Kyoto branch at a young age after his father’s death. Meanwhile, his two older brothers went to Edo to take up prestigious positions painting for the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 1662 Yasunobu gained the honorific title of “Hogen,” and near the end of his life in his 70s he wrote a treatise on the art of painting that would server as a central doctrine for later generations of painters. Here we see a str...