Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scrollSesson YūbaiNone

Sesson Yūbai (1290 – 1347)

Explore the serene world of Sesson Yubai, a pivotal Zen poet & monk (1290-1347). Master his minimalist calligraphy & profound insights into Buddhist philosophy.

Sesson was born in Hitachi province (now Ibaraki prefecture) and was a member of the Satake clan, which governed this region. He became a Zen monk at a young age and traveled around Aizu, Kamakura, Odawara, and other areas before settling in Miharu in Mutsu province (now Fukushima prefecture) in his final yearsof life. While greatly admiring the style of Sesshū (1420–1506?), Sesson also studied a wide variety of Chinese and Japanese paintings and established himself as the painter with the most individualistic style in the painting circles of hisday.This triptych is one of the representative paintings of figures by Sesson. The central figure is the legendary Chinese Zhou-dynasty immortal Qin Gao (Kinkō), who wandered throughout various regions for two hundred long years. One day, he told his disciples he would return with a small dragon and jumped into the lake. On the promised day, he appeared riding an enormous crimson carp (usually painted black). Here, Qin Gao appears in the central scroll, flanked by his disciples in the left and right scrolls. Their facial expressions and postures are humorous in this scene, which gives the optical illusion of a single frame from an animation. Moreover, the jellyfishshaped wave crests are without precedent, being nothing less than Sesson’s unique expression.

About this artwork

  • Title: Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll
  • Artist: Sesson Yūbai
  • Format: Tall
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Color palette: Earthy
  • Color intensity: Vivid

Questions & Answers

Who created "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll"?

"Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" was created by Sesson Yūbai. The information on this page describes Sesson Yūbai's original work.

Can the image of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai be freely reproduced?

"Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This status governs how the image of the work may be reproduced.

What color palette is used in "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai?

The colors of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" form an earthy palette. This classification describes the dominant color families.

What explains the copyright situation of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai?

The copyright status of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" - in the public domain - its copyright has expired - follows from the artist's death in 1347.

How strong is the contrast in "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai?

The light-dark contrast of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" is recorded as serene. Contrast describes how strongly light and dark areas differ.

Is "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai a light or a dark artwork?

The recorded values for "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" by Sesson Yūbai are: brilliant brightness, bright balance luminance.

How do the colors of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" relate to each other?

The color harmony of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; Left scroll" is recorded as unified palette.

© 2026 mus3ums.com