Tenjin (Sugawara no Michizane) with an ox
16th century
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1908.21
Tags
About this artwork
The teachings and imagery of Zen Buddhism had a profound impact on Japanese religious beliefs and practice during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. In this painting, the deified Japanese scholar and government official Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), known posthumously as Tenjin (heavenly deity), is represented walking beside an ox. The image alludes to the Zen Buddhist allegory of an ox and herdsman who illustrate the process of seeking and attaining enlightenment. Michizane was a court offi...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...