Jotenkaku Museum

EXHIBITION

Chinso

Part 1: March 17 (Sun) – May 12 (Sun), 2024 / Part 2: May 26 (Sun) – July 21 (Sun), 2024

Chinso

Part 1: March 17 (Sun) – May 12 (Sun), 2024
Part 2: May 26 (Sun) – July 21 (Sun), 2024

Overview

The Zen teachings of Bodhidharma, the patriarch of Zen Buddhism, have been passed down from Zen masters to disciples until this day. Shokoku-ji Temple was founded by Zen monk Muso Soseki. He received Zen teachings from Japanese Buddhist monk Koho Kennichi who had received them from Chinese Buddhist monk Mugaku Sogen who came to Japan in the 13th century.
As a symbol of passing on the teachings, the master’s portrait and robes were given to disciples.
The portrait was called “chinso.” The chinso portrait was not only proof of passing on the teachings, but it was also displayed at the master’s memorial services.
Memorial services for Shokoku-ji founder Muso Soseki and second-generation head priest Shun’oku Myoha remain important Buddhist events at Shokoku-ji.
This exhibition includes many chinso portraits shown to the public for the first time. They continue to convey Zen teachings.
See the work of Zen monks who trained at the Shokoku-ji head temple and its branch temples.

Exhibits

Chapter 1Chinso Portraits Honoring Temple Founders

[ Major Works ]
· Lineage charts, 30 scrolls, Kano school of painting, Edo Period, Year 1655, Shokoku-ji Collection (Part 1)
(Image 1: Dharma, Image 2: Muso Soseki)

· Exhibited publicly for the first time. Lineage charts, 28 scrolls, donated by Ryosa Kohitsu, Year 1653, Daiouji Temple Collection (Part 2) (Image 3: Second-generation Shokoku-ji head monk)

Chapter 2Buddhist Rituals and Chinso Portraits

Ancestors enshrined in Kaisando and annual events

[ Major Works ]
· Mugaku Sogen chinso portrait Shun’oku Myoha inscription written by Cho Sugo Jisho-ji Collection (Part 1)
· Koho Ken’ichi chinso portrait Shokoku-ji Collection (Image 4)
· Muso Soseki chinso portrait Self inscription Shokoku-ji Collection

Chinese Zen Founders and Memorial Observances
· Chobo Minpon chinso portrait Jisho-in Collection (Image 5) (Part 2)
· Unmon Bun’en chinso portrait Written by Unkoku Toyo Shokoku-ji Collection (Part 1)

Chapter 3Chinso Portraits of Shokoku-ji School and Branch Temple Founders

[ Major Works ]
Daichi School
· Important Cultural Property Shun’oku Myoha chinso portrait Jisho-ji Collection (Image 6) (Part 1)

Jotoku School
· Kukoku Myo-o chinso portrait Daikomyo-ji Collection (Part 1)
· Seisho Jotai chinso portrait Daikomyo-ji Collection (Two portraits exhibited in turn.)

Erin School
· Exhibited publicly for the first time. Taigaku Shusu chinso portrait Shokoku-ji Collection (Image 7)

Keiun School
· Menkoku Shutetsu chinso portrait Zuikei Shuho inscription Shokoku-ji Collection
·Genchu Shugaku calligraphy, Menkoku poetry / Zuikei Shuho calligraphy, Menkoku head priest morals Shokoku-ji Collection

Jisho School
· Exhibited publicly for the first time. Zaichu Chuen chinso portrait Jisho-in Collection (Part 1)

Issan School
· Taishin Soi chinso portrait Zuishun-in Collection (Part 2)

Chapter 4Zen Monk Successes and Chinso Portraits
―Examples: Kinshuku Kentaku and Horin Josho

[ Major Works ]
· Exhibited publicly for the first time. Kinshuku Kentaku chinso portrait Jisho-ji Collection (Five portraits exhibited in turn.)
· Exhibited publicly for the first time. Written by Seisho Jotai Rokuon-ji Collection
· Horin Josho chinso portrait Rokuon-ji Collection (Three portraits)
· Kakumeiki Written by Horin Josho Rokuon-ji Collection

Chapter 5Founder’s Artifacts

[ Major Works ]
· Exhibited publicly for the first time. Kesa robe for Kanchu Chutai (Part 1)

Highlights

Highlight 1Two lineage charts 30 scrolls from Shokoku-ji (Part 1) and 28 scrolls from Daiouji Temple (Part 2)

Lineage charts of Zen masters have been passed on in the Shokoku-ji School. Part 1 will display 30 scrolls from Shokoku-ji headquarters. And Part 2 will show 28 painted scrolls of masters from Daiouji Temple exhibited publicly for the first time.
Shokoku-ji’s scrolls were painted in 1655 by Kano school painters. They were requested to paint the scrolls since they happened to be stationed at Shokoku-ji while painting the wall paintings at the Imperial Palace under construction.
Meanwhile, Daiouji’s paintings were donated by Kohitsu Ryosa in 1653. The inscriptions were written by the head priests of Shokoku-ji and Daitoku-ji.
Enjoy the portraits of the two Zen masters from the same era.

Highlight 2Zen Monks Painting Chinso Portraits

Many chinso portraits have an inscription above the image. It indicates who wrote the inscription and who it was given to. Being exhibited are chinso portraits of Zen monks who were active in the 17th century such as Kinshuku Kentaku and Horin Josho. We will explain when and why these chinso portraits were painted.
As for the painter’s identity, only some of the chinso portraits have the artist’s seal. For many other chinso portraits, the artist is unknown.
However, many Edo Period chinso portraits have indications on the paper or box that they were painted by a Shokoku-ji School Zen monk such as Bunshitsu Sogen (Shokoku-ji Hojuin 9th-generation priest) or Imei Shukei (Shokoku-ji 115th-generation head priest).
See the painting techniques of Zen painter monks Shubun and Sesshu who trained at Shokoku-ji in medieval times as well as Edo-Period (17th to late 19th century) Zen painter monks.

Highlight 3Shokoku-ji Recovery and Chinso Portrait Production

Muso Soseki was Shokoku-ji’s first head priest and also the founder of Rokuon-ji and Jisho-ji temples. His chinso portrait has been passed on by the Shokoku-ji head temple and branch temples. There are a number of his chinso portraits dating back to the medieval period, but there are also many newer chinso portraits made during the Edo Period.
This exhibition shows chinso portraits of Muso Soseki by professional painters from the Kano school of painting and Sumiyoshi School and by Shokoku-ji’s painter monks. The chinso portraits have been passed on at the head temple and branch temples.
Part 2 will show chinso portraits of Chubo Minpon painted during the Yuan Dynasty and those produced at Shokoku-ji during the early modern period. You can compare chinso portraits of the same Zen monk and see how they differ depending on the artist.

Muso Soseki chinso portrait
Painted by Sumiyoshi Gukei
Rinko-in Collection

Exhibition Information

Exhibition Dates
Part 1: March 17 (Sun) – May 12 (Sun), 2024
Part 2: May 26 (Sun) – July 21 (Sun), 2024
Days closed
May 13 (Mon) – May 25 (Sat), 2024
Hours
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Last entry at 4:30 p.m.)
Admission Fees
Adults ¥800
Seniors (65 and above) & University students ¥600
High school & Middle school students ¥300
Elementary students ¥200

*For adults only, groups of 20 or more receive a discounted rate of ¥700 per person.

Organized by
Shokoku-ji Jotenkaku Museum
Sponsored by
Mannenkai Foundation, Kinkaku-ji, and Ginkaku-ji

Related Events

Part 1 Exhibition Lecture “Zen Monk Chinso Portraits and Lineage Charts”

  • March 23rd, 2024 (Sat.)

    2:00 – 3:30 p.m.,

    Lecturer: Atsuko Tatehate, Chief Curator, Idemitsu Sazo Museum of Arts

  • Place: Lecture hall on museum’s 2nd floor (Doors open 1:30 p.m.)

Part 2 Exhibition Talk Event “Chinso Portraits and Cubism”

  • June 8th, 2024 (Sat.)

    2:00 – 3:30 p.m.,

    Lecturer: Toshihiro Nishimura, Chinso portrait artist

  • Place: Lecture hall on museum’s 2nd floor (Doors open 1:30 p.m.)

*Both events limited to 80 persons, first come, first served.

Classes

  • Part 1

    April 27th, 2024 (Sat.)

    2:00 – 3:30 p.m.,

    “Magnificence of Shokoku-ji’s Annual Events and Chinso Portraits”

  • Part 2

    July 20th, 2024 (Sat.)

    2:00 – 3:30 p.m.,

    “Period of Chinso Portrait Production–Early Modern Period”

  • Instructor: Junko Honda, museum curator
    Place: Lecture hall on museum’s 2nd floor (Doors open 1:30 p.m.)

*Both events limited to 80 persons, first come, first served.

Gallery Talks

  • Part 1

    April 6th (Sat.) and May 4th (Sat.)

  • Part 2

    June 1st (Sat.) and July 6th (Sat.)

  • Time: 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.,
    Instructor: Junko Honda, museum curator
    Place: Exhibition room

*Each event requires an admission ticket.

Sales

Special Seal

A limited-edition seal for the Chinso exhibition.

Press release

  • February 26th, 2024

    Press release published for “Chinso”