Kobori Tomoto

1864 ~ 1931

Kobori Tomoto was a prominent Japanese Nihonga painter, educator, and professor at the Tokyo Fine Arts School. After studying under Kawasaki Chitora, he developed a deep interest in the classical traditions of the Tosa and Yamato-e schools, which profoundly influenced his artistic style. Renowned for his historical paintings (rekishi-ga), he combined meticulous historical research with refined traditional techniques and became one of the leading figures in the revival of historical painting in modern Japan. Tomoto participated in the activities surrounding the founding of the Japan Art Institute (Nihon Bijutsuin) alongside Okakura Tenshin before pursuing an independent career. As both an accomplished painter and respected teacher, he trained a generation of Nihonga artists, including Yasuda Yukihiko, and played a significant role in shaping Japanese art during the Meiji and Taishō periods.
He was appointed an Imperial Household Artist in 1917 and was later recognized as one of the foremost authorities on historical painting in Japan.

Artwork Description
Saigyō meeting his wife
Meiji
From Kōda Rohan`s novel "Stories of Two Days" (Futsuka Monogatari), comes the poignant scene where the wandering monk Saigyo encounters his wife, who has become a nun following his departure.

Saigyō, born Satō Norikiyo in 1118, was a prominent warrior turned monk-poet during the late Heian to early Kamakura period in Japan. Initially part of a noble family, he left his military career to adopt a monastic life due to a profound sense of crisis about societal values.
Saigyō is celebrated for his mastery of the tanka, a traditional Japanese poetic form, leaving behind approximately 2,300 poems. His works appear in imperial anthologies like "Shinkokinshū," with 94 poems, and a total of 265 poems across the twenty-one anthologies, marking him as a leading figure in Japanese literature of his time.
Throughout his life, Saigyō traveled extensively across Japan, often living in remote locations to better connect with nature, which profoundly influenced his poetic themes of natural beauty and personal solitude, often tinged with melancholy. His works and the transformative journey from a noble warrior to a reflective poet continue to resonate deeply, earning him enduring respect and admiration in the annals of Japanese literature.
USD $192.00