Kao

Japanese: 可翁 - かおう

A painter of ink and ink from the Northern and Southern Courts period. A series of ink and ink paintings bearing the "Kao" seal have led to the assumption that he was an artist named Kao, but his biography is unknown. His works, such as "Bamboo and Sparrow" (Yamato Bunkakan), "Monk Kensu" (Tokyo National Museum), and the National Treasure "Hanzan" are masterpieces that capture the energy of a moment in a simple composition. Since ancient times, these works have been seen as an expression of Zen wisdom and attributed to the side job of the high priest Kao Sozen, who lived at Kennin-ji Temple and Nanzen-ji Temple, but there is no definite proof. Kao Sozen is also noteworthy for his mastery of paintings in the style of Mokkei from the Yuan Dynasty in China, but there is also a theory that he is the same person as Ryozen, who is thought to be a professional painter. In modern times, the small seal stamped with the "Kao" seal has been read as "Niga," and a theory has emerged that suggests that he was an artist of the Takuma school named Kao Niga, but it is difficult to determine which is the case.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

南北朝時代の水墨道釈画家。「可翁」印のある一連の水墨画から可翁という画人が想定されてきたが伝記は不明。『竹雀図』 (大和文華館) ，『蜆子 (けんす) 和尚図』 (東京国立博物館) ，国宝『寒山図』などは簡潔な構図のなかによく一瞬の気迫をとらえた傑作。古来これを禅機の発露とみて建仁寺，南禅寺などに歴住した高僧可翁宗然の余技にあてるが確証はない。また中国，元の牧谿 (もっけい) 風の絵をよくした点で可翁宗然は注目に値するが，一方専門画家と考えられる良全と同一人とする説もある。近代になっては「可翁」印とともに押された小印を「仁賀」と読み，可翁仁賀という宅磨派の画人を想定する説も出て，いずれとも決しがたい。

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