Chawan, tea bowl: Moon over green bamboo

”Cold is the wind from over the water into the window
This moment the thoughts of poetry are clear
The moon enters through the window and moves out the shade
Clouds bring happiness and the seats are situated in the dark.”

Chikuden, trained as a doctor, became a historian after having studied painting and poetry in Kyoto.
He ranked among the first of the bunjin Nanga painters. His pupils, especially his adopted son Tanomura Chokunyû (1814-1907), carried on the legacy of Chikuden throughout the 19th and early 20th Century.

Chikuden, being only the second son of a doctor, received permission to give up the family occupation. At 23 he was allowed to study Chinese poetry and painting. He was taught ethics and history at the school, which was controlled by the lord of Oka and so he became the historian of Bungo province.
In 1813 Chikuden resigned and started travelling and made many friends. In 1826 he moved to Nagasaki to study recently imported Chinese poetry. Chikuden was ranked among the first of the Bunjin Nanga painters.

Reference:
Oita 1982
Oita 1999
Berry & Morioka ’08 p. 302-03
Cahill p. 94 ff.
Roberts p. 13
Araki p. 638 ff.

Shôen (Kosono) yaki, earthenware from Bungo province

Price: ON REQUEST