The Daoist Immortals Xiama and Tieguai 蝦蟇鉄拐図がまてっかいず

Description

Depicted on this set of paintings are two enigmatic immortals. Sesson, a Zen monk-painter, is known for his eccentric style of painting.

These hanging scrolls feature the Taoist Immortals Xiama and Tieguai. Li Tieguai is depicted holding a cane and blowing vigorously into the sky. A smaller figure stands on the edge of this powerful plume. This is actually Tieguai's soul. Legends say Tieguai could project his soul to distant lands. On the other scroll, Liu Haichan is depicted with arms outstretched facing a rather peculiar creature. Haichan was also known as Xiama owing to his ability to use magic and control a mythical three-legged toad, known as a 'xiama' in Chinese.

The Zen painter-priest Sesson was active in the Kanto region from the late Muromachi period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He is famed for his free-wheeling, unique style that skillfully utilizes different shadings of monochrome ink.

These paintings are imbued with an indefinable strangeness, as epitomized by Tieguai's peculiar countenance as he breathes out his spirit, for example, or by the idiosyncratic expression on Xiama's face as he leaps about with his toad. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the unique world of Sesson's paintings.