Togan Unkoku

Background

Togan Unkoku (a descendant of Kagesue Kajiwara) was born in 1547 into a privileged family in Nagasaki, the second son of Hara Naoie, lord of Nokomi Castle in Hizen province (now part of modern Nagasaki Prefecture).

Education

Togan Unkoku studied painting under Shoei Kano and later went into the service of Terumoto Mori at Hiroshima Castle.

Career

Togan Unkoku worked under Lord Mori of Yamaguchi Prefecture. Later, he became a Buddhist priest and abbot of Unkoku-an Temple. Togan Unkoku was also presented the Unkokuan cottage in Yamaguchi Prefecture which had been the residence of Sesshu. It was after this cottage that he took his name. His style of painting was similar to Sesshu's and he won fame as one of the master screen and·wall painters of the Momoyama Period. Many of his works are still treasured.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Descending Geese

  • Landscape 2

  • Landscape 1

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

  • painting

Interests

• waka poetry, tea ceremony

Connections

Father:

Hara Naoie