Kusumi Morikage “Fei Zhang Fang”

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IItem No.
Title	Kusumi Morikage “Fei Zhang Fang”
Overall size
Artwork size
Artist	Kusumi Morikage
Date Created	17th century
Price	Contact us.

　Fei zhang fang is a character from the ancient Chinese book, “神仙伝（The Tale of the Immortals）”. He was an official in the Later Han Dynasty who happened to become an apprentice to a hermit named Goko, and went through a rigorous training to become a hermit himself. Although he failed in his training, he returned home with long life and spiritual power, and performed miracles such as curing illnesses and seeking rain.

　Although cranes do not appear in the “Tales of the Immortals,” this painting depicts Fei zhang fang flying in the sky on a crane.
　In early modern Japan, Fei zhang fang is most often represented as a hermit riding on a crane, as in this figure. Perhaps the figure was confused with other Chinese legends featuring flying hermits, or perhaps the idea of associating a hermit with a crane, both of which symbolize longevity, led to the creation of a new iconography that did not exist in the original context.

　Morikage’s paintbrush creates a fascinating pictorial world by adding a touch of humor to traditional subjects derived from folklore.
　Fei Zhang fang looks mystified, as if he has realized something, while the three figures on the ground look up at the sky with wide-open mouths and surprised expressions. Although there are only a few brush strokes, the artist’s skill is astonishing in capturing the vivid expressions on the faces of the figures. This work is an excellent example of Morikage’s characteristic style, with its lively, crisp lines and soft, light colors.

　Kusumi Morikage was a painter of the Kano school active in the early Edo period. He was called one of the Four Heavenly Kings under Kano Tanyu (1602-1674), but was later excommunicated, and developed his own style of painting. He is known for works such as the national treasure “Cooling Off”(Tokyo National Museum collection).

As an antique, it may have some scratches or blemishes. We recommend that you visit our store to check the condition.
If you wish, we will send you detailed photos of the item, so please feel free to contact us.