Shūbun's style, like that of most Japanese Zen painters, was inspired by Chinese Song Dynasty painters such as Ma Yuan, Xia Gui, Guo Xi, and others.
•
As is usual for the period and the work of Sesshū's teacher Tenshō Shūbun, style and technique are heavily influenced by Song Dynasty Chinese paintings, in particular the works of Xia Gui.
During the reign of Emperor Ningzong Xia served in the Imperial Painting Academy (Yuhuayuan 廷畫院) in the same city, the way most major artists did at the time.
•
Sesshū Tōyō visited China in the 15th century and was influenced by Xia Gui, as seen in Sesshū's landscape scrolls such as the smaller Landscape of the Four Seasons in the Kyoto National Museum gallery.
Xia | Xia Gui | GUI widget | Western Xia | Gui Guerrejat | Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia | Xia Huan | Xia Meng | Xia County | Western Xia tombs | Gui Boratto | Gui Bonsiepe | Emperor Mozhu of Western Xia |
He was active from about 1190-1230 and is considered one of the Four Masters of the Southern Song dynasty, which also included Li Tang, Ma Yuan and Xia Gui.