Chinese Lions Folding Screens
唐獅子図屏風
Kano Eitoku · Right screen: Azuchi-Momoyama period (16th century); left screen: Edo period (17th century) · Folding screen
Right screen of the six-panel pair (by Kano Eitoku). Image: Wikimedia Commons (Work page (opens in a new tab)) / Collection: The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan (reduced in size on this site). Not provided by the museum PD-Art (PD-Art|PD-old-100, PD-Japan, PD-US) (opens in a new tab) View larger
The right screen of the Chinese Lions pair of six-panel screens, a National Treasure attributed to the Azuchi-Momoyama-period painter Kano Eitoku. The left screen was added by Kano Tsunenobu in the Edo period, and the pair is held by the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.
- Artist
- Kano Eitoku
- Date
- Right screen: Azuchi-Momoyama period (16th century); left screen: Edo period (17th century)
- Medium / format
- Folding screen
About this work
Chinese Lions is a pair of six-panel folding screens in color on gold-ground paper, designated a National Treasure. According to the Sannomaru Shozokan's record, the right screen is by Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) and the left by Kano Tsunenobu (1636-1713); the right screen measures 223.6 cm high by 451.8 cm wide. The image shown here is the right screen.
The museum explains that the right screen carries an authentication note (kiwame-gaki) by Kano Tanyu and is famous as one of the few reliably attributed works by Eitoku, the great master of the Momoyama school. A male and a female lion stride confidently among rocks, drawn with powerful brushwork; the design is simple, yet it has force and a heroic air.
The left screen was made later by Kano Tsunenobu to match the design of the right screen, and the two are now transmitted as a pair. The museum's record states that it was presented by Mori Motonori in 1888 (Meiji 21).
Where can I see it?
Exhibitions change over time. Check each museum's exhibition information before you visit.
Museums that hold this work
- The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru ShozokanMuseum's page for this work (opens in a new tab)
Chiyoda, Tokyo Accession no. SZK002944
Plan your visit to The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
Find places to stay, activities and rental cars for a visit to The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, which holds "Chinese Lions Folding Screens".
Frequently asked questions
- Who painted Chinese Lions Folding Screens, and when?
- Chinese Lions Folding Screens is by Kano Eitoku, made in Right screen: Azuchi-Momoyama period (16th century); left screen: Edo period (17th century). Medium: Folding screen.
- Where can I see Chinese Lions Folding Screens?
- It is held by The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan. Exhibitions change, so check each museum's information before you visit.
Sources and references
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