Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right 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; right scroll
  • Artist: Sesson Yūbai
  • Format: Tall
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Color intensity: Vivid
  • Perceived brightness: brilliant

Questions & Answers

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

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

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

"Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1347.

Is "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai in the public domain?

The copyright answer for "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai: the work is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This determines whether reproductions of the image may be freely made.

What color harmony does "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai display?

"Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai displays a unified palette color harmony.

What level of contrast does "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai show?

"Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai shows a serene contrast between its light and dark areas.

What is the dominant color of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai?

espresso (#5f5b4d) is the leading color of "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai.

What color intensity does "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai have?

The colors in "Qin Gao and Other Immortals; right scroll" by Sesson Yūbai have a vivid intensity.

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