雪村周継筆 費長房図|Daoist Master Fei Zhangfang with a Dragon
ca. 1555 to 1561
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
Image: 27 1/4 × 13 3/8 in. (69.2 × 34 cm) Overall with mounting: 60 1/2 × 18 3/8 in. (153.7 × 46.7 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Muromachi period (1392–1573)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2022
Accession Number
2022.432.8
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Behold the captivating *Daoist Master Fei Zhangfang with a Dragon* by Sesson Shūkei (ca. 1492–ca. 1560s), a hanging scroll in ink on paper from Japan's Muromachi period (1392–1573). around 1555–1561, this work measures 27¼ × 13⅜ inches and depicts the legendary Chinese Daoist immortal Fei Zhangfang, famed for his longevity elixir and mystical encounters with dragons. As a monk-painter influenced by Zen Buddhism, Sesson channels the eccentric spirit of his mentor Sesshū Tōyō through bold, splashed-ink (*haboku*) techniques, evoking raw energy and spontaneity. In the Muromachi era, amid the Ashikaga shogunate's cultural zenith, ink monochrome painting thrived, blending Chinese literati traditions with Japanese Zen aesthetics. Sesson's dramatic composition—likely featuring swirling mists, a coiling dragon, and the sage's ethereal form—exemplifies his "untrammeled" style, prioritizing expressive brushwork over refined detail. Hanging scrolls like this were cherished in tea houses and temples, unrolled for contemplation during rituals. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection (2022 gift), highlights Daoist themes of immortality that resonated in Japanese art, bridging Chinese mythology with Muromachi spiritualism. A testament to Sesson's mastery, it invites viewers to ponder the interplay of chaos and harmony in nature's divine forces.
About the Artist
Sesson Shūkei 雪村周継 (Japanese) · 1504 –1589
ca. 1504–ca. 1589