A massive evocative painting exhibited at the first Bunten National Exhibition in 1908 by Ito Koun enclosed in a large period wooden box and pblished in the Nitten-shi series volume I. It is performed with pigment on silk, and shows that soft, almost mystical touch typical of late Meiji Rekishi-ga historical imagery. The samurai crouches at the gate, letting fly arrows at his overwhelming opponents...

A set of four large scrolls depicting seasonal landscapes by Shirakura Niho enclosed in the original signed double wood box exhibited at the 1936 Nangain-Ten and published in the book Shirakura Niho (page 127 figures 102-107). Ink & Light color on Paper in fine silk mountings, they have been completely cleaned and restored to original perfect condition retaining the original cloth by Kitaoka Hyboido of Kyoto. Each scroll is 66 x 138.5 cm (26 x 54-1/2 inches)...

Antique Japanese large scroll painting on silk of a buck and a doe. With incredible detailing such as the thousands of individual hairs on each deer, piercing eyes, long strands of grass with intermingled berry shrubs and blossoming flowers. Creating a tranquil nature scene. Signed "Toko" Tsuchinoto (boar) Aki. Taisho period circa 1920's. Autumn, Year 36 of 60 year cycle. Comes with original tomobako. Size: (entire scroll) 92"H x 33.25" W (artwork only) 56" H x 27.5" W

Here in Kyoto our gallery is located along the Kamo River in a district known as Shobu-en Machi, which roughly translates as “Iris Town.” As you can imagine, the scene depicted in this painting of irises and cranes is one that can be commonly witnessed in our neighborhood in the spring (May) when these flowers are in full bloom...

An interesting comment on the circle of life, the huge cicada, with only a three day (above ground) life, is dissected and carried away by a line of tiny ants, birth and death, the mighty and the tiny, and the cycle of life continues. This image is by Ishikawa Chikuson and comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is performed with ink and light color on handmade paper, mounted in a field of soft-blue silk extended with beige...

Antique Japanese hand scroll painting of Legends of Mount Shigi based on a painting called Shigisan-engi. The long narrative scroll depicts miracles revolving around a monk named Myoren who lived on Mount Shigi. According to the legends, Myoren was drawn to Mount Shigi by a Buddha statue. He built a shrine there and, that winter, he survived on rice provided to him by his roving rice bowl...

Japanese scroll painting with a figure of Manjusri in the center of a circular chart below which sits a fu-dog; the very bottom of the scroll has numerous signatures and seal marks. The waves along the border of the circle indicate that this is a Sea-Crossing Manjusri (Tokai Monju). The text within the circle indicates that the painting comes from the Matsumoto castle in the Shinano province (the Nagano prefecture in central Japan)...

Antique Japanese fan painting of a single bat in sumi-e ink on paper. Signed by the artist. The painting is 18th century, later mounted as a scroll. The surface of the painting is very unusual and has a slight opalescent quality.
Size of scroll: 48" high x 24" wide (26" wide including scroll ends). Size of fan painting: 9" high x 19" wide.

New Arrival

Antique 18th century Japanese charming small scroll painting of a beautiful maiden riding a kirin (in Chinese, qilin). The mythical creature is part lion with the body of a dragon and the hooves of a deer. It represents good fortune, protection, prosperity, longevity and fertility. Beautifully painted in sumi ink and light colors on paper. Mounted on paper. Signed by the artist. (pvt...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a skeleton. Realistically rendered for use in a doctor's office. Great detail and shading. Frontal view with a top view of the foot. Painted in sumi-e ink and light colors on paper. Signature seal.

Dimensions: Total size: 77 1/2" high x 27 3/4" wide (30 1/2" wide including rollers). Size of art: 55" high x 23 1/4" wide.

Antique Japanese calligraphy scroll painting by the Confucian scholar, poet, koto musician, calligrapher and artist, Ryū Kōbi (also called Ryû Sôro) (1714-1792). Sumi ink on paper. With three seals, one being his trademark Dragon seal.

This work is Waka poetry done in traditional 5-7-5-7-7 syllables or a 5-line wake poem. Which traditionally calls up an image of nature that then alludes to an emotion...

Antique Japanese framed scroll painting by the artist Mori Sosen (1747-1821), Japanese painter of the Shijō school during the Edo period. Although he did paint other animals and birds, Sosen is most famous for his paintings monkeys. In this painting, a mother monkey grooms her young one. Her expression is one of intent concentration while her little monkey protests. Sosen was a master at painting monkeys, delineating every hair and creating a soft effect...

Antique Japanese Buddhist Diamond Realm Mandala thangka painting (Kongokai Mandara). In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Diamond Realm (vajradhatu kongokai) is a metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Wisdom Buddhas. The Diamond Realm Mandala is based on an esoteric Buddhist sutra called Vajrasekhara Sutra. Shuji Mandala of the Two Worlds, Vajradhatu Mandala does not directly express the forms of the buddhas but expresses them in Sanskrit character (Siddham) called Shuji seed letter...

Wonderful Japanese scroll painting of Mt. Fuji surrounded by mist, with small birds and reeds in foreground, painted in light colors on silk, signed: by Kazan, of Gaishi Studio. Total size: 33 1/2" wide x 69" high. painting size: 15 1/2" high x 26 1/2" wide. "Biog.:1793-1841 Painter. Born in Edo, son of a samurai. Served Lord Miyake, of the impoverished Tawara clan. In 1838 imprisoned on false charges by the Tokugawa government; death sentence commuted to permanent house arrest; committed suicid...

This scene may have been depicted from a national treasure “Hikone Byobu six panel folding screen”. The screen has been collected by the Hikone castle museum located in Shiga prefecture in Japan. The screen has been very well known for not only the quality but also as a representative masterpiece depicting the custom of the early Edo period showing early-modern Japanese history. In this painting depicts a young robust courtesan with her western puppy. Her kimono is decorated with a special t...

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a noble courtier on horseback. He wears a green robe with swirling gold details and his horse is adorned in red tassels. His younger attendant hurries behind on foot. Both figures hold their long sleeves over their heads as they make their way through the snow. A tree in the background is partially obscured by a low mist. Painted in sumi ink and mineral colors on silk. Signed: Kiyohara shi onna Harunobu hitsu. Seal: Harunobu, Provenance Indianapolis M...

Antique Japanese scroll painting depicting 13 Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Wisdom Kings. The deity at the very top is Dianichi-nyorai (Vairocana) with his hands in dhyana mudra. The 13 figures are (not in order of appearance): Shaka (Sakyamuni), Monju (Manjushri), Fugen (Samantabhadra), Jizo (Ksitigarbha), Miroku (Maitreya), Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru), Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta), Amida (Amitaba), Ashuku (Akshobhya), Dainichi (Vairocana), Kokuzo (Akasagarbha), and Fudo (Acala...

Japanese painting of a Yang Guifei, the Tang Dynasty beauty. She stands and gazes at a blossoming branch of peony flowers, ornately patterned robes drape over her folded arms, painted in light ink and mineral colors on silk. By the artist Genki.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: Total size: 70" high x 26" wide (28 1/4) wide including ends). Size of artwork: 44" high x 19 1/4" wide.