Description
This fan depicts a story about the master calligrapher Wang Xizhi, in which he writes calligraphy on fans for a destitute, old, fan vendor, causing her business to boom. In this painting, Wang Xizhi is shown writing by a big tree. The figures of two children and the old woman are skillfully placed within the small scene. <P>
The inscription within the painting is by Priest Taigaku Shusu; that written above is by Priest Isho Tokugan and is dated 1403. These two inscriptions prove that the picture was made by Josetsu, was used as a fan by Shusu, and was mounted as a hanging scroll by Shusu's student, Priest Shikyo. <P>
This fan, with its simplified contour lines, is an excellent example of the <I>genpitsu</I> style of ink painting, modeled after Chinese master Liang Kai.
Data source
ColBase
"ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan" is a service that enables a multi-database search of the collections in the four national museums (To...
Contents holder/Provider
Aggregator
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
The National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH) comprise four National Museums (Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto National Museum, Nara National Museum, and Kyushu National Museum) and two National Research Institutes for Cultural Properties (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties), as well as the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) in Sakai City, for a total of seven institutions.
Last updated
July 20, 2026