Kan'ei Era painting
- Gallery: Room 93
- Culture: Kan'ei Era
- Made in: Japan
- Date: 1624-1644
- Object type: painting, screen
- Materials: paper
- Museum number: 1949,0709,0.9
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is a six-panel screen painting believed to have been created during the Kan'ei Era in Japan, around 1624 to 1644. Before you stretches a detailed depiction of the Hiyoshi Shrine in Otsu, showcasing scenes of pilgrims arriving and departing. The painting is crafted with ink, color, and gold leaf on paper, giving it a striking luminosity.
Look closely at the compositions—this screen is part of a pair that together illustrates the seasonal events of the Hie Sanno Shrine near Lake Biwa. The shrine appears prominently in the middle of the right-hand panel, while a red torii gate marks the start of the pilgrimage path. You’ll also find lively scenes of people enjoying entertainment and picnics beside rice-wine.
What makes this piece unique is that it reflects the traditions of the Kano School while also showing the influence of Chinese painting styles. It's a vivid snapshot of life and religious practice in early-modern Japan.
See it in person
Kan'ei Era painting is on display in Room 93 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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