Sesshu

Sesshu (Japanese: Snow Boat/Seshuu, Romanized: Sesshū, 1420-August 26, 1506) was a Japanese ink painter of the Muromachi period. He was born in Akahama, China (now Sosha City, Okayama Prefecture). He was originally a monk at Xiangguo Temple, and may have learned some painting techniques from monks at the same temple. His early paintings were mainly about religious figures. Later, he widely adopted Chinese paintings from the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties. He left Xiangguo Temple in 1464. In 1467, he finally had the opportunity to visit the Ming Dynasty on a tomorrow's trade ship. "Landscape Painting of Four Seasons" was completed during his visit to China. The "Overpass Erection" in 1502 is the pinnacle of his artistic achievements. He made pioneering contributions in injecting ink painting into national emotions, influencing his successors such as Yukimura Shutsugi.