Daikokudo, by Kamitsukasa Kai'un

Kamitsukasa Kai'un (1907‐1975) was the head priest of Todaiji temple. He interacted with artists and literary figures such as Shiga Naoya, Sugimoto Kenkichi and Suda Kokuta, while also being such an avid collector of ceramics that he earned the nickname “Tsubo Priest." This work is one of the hanging scrolls created as part of the plaques commissioned for the Shinji Shumeikai's Misono Daikokudo. While many of his works are brushed in light black ink in an expansive form, this kind of drip‐filled brush expression conveys the full strength and breadth of Kai'un's character.