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SHIBATA Zeshin(1808-1891)Biography |
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| SHIBATA Zeshin in his
late 70ies |
Artist – SHIBATA Zeshin (柴田 是真) was born in 1807 in Tachibana-cho, Ryogoku,
Edo (江戸両国橘町), as the son of
SHIBATA Ichigoro (柴田市五郎), a palace engraver from Echigo who was adopted to a merchant of pouches
(tobacco pouches, paper pouches, inro pouches, etc.). He is
mostly known under his pen name Zeshin (是真).
SHIBATA Zeshin was a lacquer artist and Japanese painter who was active from the end
of the Edo period
to the middle of the Meiji period. He was a craftsman who
played a role as a bridge between the early modern period and the modern era in the
field of Japanese lacquer work. His light,
witty, and stylish style, full of esprit, was popular
with Westerners against the backdrop of the craze for Japonism,
and many of his works have been sent overseas to be
adored.
From the age of 11 in 1817, Zeshin studied lacquer art under the first Koma Kansai (初代古満寛哉, こま かんさい), who valued artisanship and was known for his intricate workmanship . It is said that he also briefly received instruction from Tani Buncho (谷文晁) , a close friend of Kansai. Although Zeshin was not familiar with Buncho's painting style, he admired his calligraphy and treasured his calligraphy in later years. In 1822, at the age of 16, he studied Shijo school painting under Suzuki Nanrei (鈴木南嶺) in order to work without relying on the designs of painters. His pen name "Reisai" (令哉, れいさい) is a combination of the character "rei" from the name Nanrei's name, and the character "ya" from Koma Kansai's name." Around 1826, he was commissioned by Asakusa Honganji Temple to paint a sliding screen painting. While he was working out the concept, he was served tea, but as he did not know the etiquette of the tea ceremony , he broke out in a cold sweat, and the composition that had begun to take shape disappeared, making it difficult to paint. Zeshin immediately visited Nishimura Myakuan , the owner of Hitomarudo Hall in the Senso-ji Temple grounds, and received instruction in the tea ceremony. He then became a student of Yoshida Soi, the 6th head of the Sohen school of tea ceremony .
In 1830, at the age of 24, he traveled to Kyoto to study the Shijo school in more depth. Through Nanrei's introduction, he became a disciple of Okamoto Toyohiko (岡本 豊彦), a brilliant artist in the Kyoto art world, the home of the Shijo school. His fellow student, Shiokawa Bunrin (塩川文麟), who was one year younger than Zeshin and lived nearby, was both a close friend and a rival. Nanrei encouraged Zeshin, who was leaving Edo, to broaden his horizons in Kyoto, and Zeshin followed Nanrei's advice, studying waka poetry and Japanese classics under Kagawa Kageki and kanji under Rai Sanyo. It is said that the title of disciple of Sanyo proved useful in unexpected ways later on. During his stay in Kyoto, he also formed friendships with Matsumura Keibun, Mori Tetsuzan, Wada Gozan, Tanaka Nikka, and the potter Aoki Mokubei .
When he returned to Edo in November 1831 or the spring of the following year, he met his teacher Nanrei again, who recognized his astonishing progress and gave him the new pen names "Janzen" and "Zeshin." These pen names are derived from the 21st chapter of the ZhuangZi (outer chapter and the TianZiHo chapter). Around this time, he moved to Kamiheiemoncho, Asakusa, across the Kanda River from Yanagiwara, and thereafter preferred to use the pen name Taiyanagikyo. In 1841, he also traveled around the Tohoku region.
In lacquer and lacquer painting, he revived the Seigaiha lacquer, which had been lost since Seigai Kanshichi, and invented new techniques such as bronze lacquer, yonbun lacquer, iron rust lacquer, sand lacquer, rosewood lacquer, and sumigata lacquer. He also contributed to the Meiji lacquer industry by exhibiting his unique style at the Domestic Industrial Exposition and serving as a judge at the exposition. He was apparently an Edokko (old Edo native), and there is an anecdote that he was reluctant to accept a job offer from Tokyo Governor Kusumoto Masataka , saying, "I became a man during the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate, so I will decline". It is said that he did not get along well with Kawanabe Kyosai, who was once a disciple of Kuniyoshi, but the Seikado Bunko Art Museum has a collaborative work between the two, a sketch album by Kyosai and a wooden box by Zeshin.
He exhibited his "Fuji Tagonoura Maki-e Face Frame" at the Vienna World's Fair in 1873, where he won the Progress Award. In 1886 , he painted the cedar door paintings of the Imperial Palace .On October 2, 1890, he became an Imperial Household Artist.
From the age of 11 in 1817, Zeshin studied lacquer art under the first Koma Kansai (初代古満寛哉, こま かんさい), who valued artisanship and was known for his intricate workmanship . It is said that he also briefly received instruction from Tani Buncho (谷文晁) , a close friend of Kansai. Although Zeshin was not familiar with Buncho's painting style, he admired his calligraphy and treasured his calligraphy in later years. In 1822, at the age of 16, he studied Shijo school painting under Suzuki Nanrei (鈴木南嶺) in order to work without relying on the designs of painters. His pen name "Reisai" (令哉, れいさい) is a combination of the character "rei" from the name Nanrei's name, and the character "ya" from Koma Kansai's name." Around 1826, he was commissioned by Asakusa Honganji Temple to paint a sliding screen painting. While he was working out the concept, he was served tea, but as he did not know the etiquette of the tea ceremony , he broke out in a cold sweat, and the composition that had begun to take shape disappeared, making it difficult to paint. Zeshin immediately visited Nishimura Myakuan , the owner of Hitomarudo Hall in the Senso-ji Temple grounds, and received instruction in the tea ceremony. He then became a student of Yoshida Soi, the 6th head of the Sohen school of tea ceremony .
In 1830, at the age of 24, he traveled to Kyoto to study the Shijo school in more depth. Through Nanrei's introduction, he became a disciple of Okamoto Toyohiko (岡本 豊彦), a brilliant artist in the Kyoto art world, the home of the Shijo school. His fellow student, Shiokawa Bunrin (塩川文麟), who was one year younger than Zeshin and lived nearby, was both a close friend and a rival. Nanrei encouraged Zeshin, who was leaving Edo, to broaden his horizons in Kyoto, and Zeshin followed Nanrei's advice, studying waka poetry and Japanese classics under Kagawa Kageki and kanji under Rai Sanyo. It is said that the title of disciple of Sanyo proved useful in unexpected ways later on. During his stay in Kyoto, he also formed friendships with Matsumura Keibun, Mori Tetsuzan, Wada Gozan, Tanaka Nikka, and the potter Aoki Mokubei .
When he returned to Edo in November 1831 or the spring of the following year, he met his teacher Nanrei again, who recognized his astonishing progress and gave him the new pen names "Janzen" and "Zeshin." These pen names are derived from the 21st chapter of the ZhuangZi (outer chapter and the TianZiHo chapter). Around this time, he moved to Kamiheiemoncho, Asakusa, across the Kanda River from Yanagiwara, and thereafter preferred to use the pen name Taiyanagikyo. In 1841, he also traveled around the Tohoku region.
In lacquer and lacquer painting, he revived the Seigaiha lacquer, which had been lost since Seigai Kanshichi, and invented new techniques such as bronze lacquer, yonbun lacquer, iron rust lacquer, sand lacquer, rosewood lacquer, and sumigata lacquer. He also contributed to the Meiji lacquer industry by exhibiting his unique style at the Domestic Industrial Exposition and serving as a judge at the exposition. He was apparently an Edokko (old Edo native), and there is an anecdote that he was reluctant to accept a job offer from Tokyo Governor Kusumoto Masataka , saying, "I became a man during the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate, so I will decline". It is said that he did not get along well with Kawanabe Kyosai, who was once a disciple of Kuniyoshi, but the Seikado Bunko Art Museum has a collaborative work between the two, a sketch album by Kyosai and a wooden box by Zeshin.
He exhibited his "Fuji Tagonoura Maki-e Face Frame" at the Vienna World's Fair in 1873, where he won the Progress Award. In 1886 , he painted the cedar door paintings of the Imperial Palace .On October 2, 1890, he became an Imperial Household Artist.
Personal
life - During the Koka
era ( 1844-1847 ), he became better known. On September
14, 1850, his first son, Kametaro, was born to his first
wife, Suma. As Korezane was 44 years old that year, it
is believed that they married relatively late in life.
In August 1854, his mother, Shizuo, died of illness at
the age of 68. Suma is said to have died in October,
exhausted from caring for her.
The following year, he remarried Suzuki Utako, who lived in Tamagawa. In 1858, he had a second son, Shinjiro, but five years later, in 1863 , Utako also passed away. The following year , in 1868, he welcomed Shino, the daughter of Chikusaan Iwaki, a greengrocer in Ryōgoku, but for some reason they did not register their marriage and Shino took her family name, Umezawa. In 1874, the third son, Junzaburo (Umezawa Takamasa), was born. In 1878 , his eldest daughter, Sei, was born. In the same year, Zeshin is said to have shaved his head.
SHIBATA Zeshin passed away on July 13, 1891, and was buried at Shofuku-ji Temple in Imado, Asakusa , and was given the posthumous name "Kodoin Shakuzeshin Koji."
The following year, he remarried Suzuki Utako, who lived in Tamagawa. In 1858, he had a second son, Shinjiro, but five years later, in 1863 , Utako also passed away. The following year , in 1868, he welcomed Shino, the daughter of Chikusaan Iwaki, a greengrocer in Ryōgoku, but for some reason they did not register their marriage and Shino took her family name, Umezawa. In 1874, the third son, Junzaburo (Umezawa Takamasa), was born. In 1878 , his eldest daughter, Sei, was born. In the same year, Zeshin is said to have shaved his head.
SHIBATA Zeshin passed away on July 13, 1891, and was buried at Shofuku-ji Temple in Imado, Asakusa , and was given the posthumous name "Kodoin Shakuzeshin Koji."
Aliases - His childhood name was Kametaro (亀太郎), his given name was Junzo (順蔵), his pen name was Janzen (儃然), as well as Zeshin (是真), Reikai (Ryokana,令哉), Tairyukyo (対柳居), Shinryutei (沈柳亭) and others.
Disciples - In 1827, Utagawa Kuniyoshi , an up-and-coming ukiyo-e artist at that time, was impressed by Zeshin's fan paintings and tried to become his apprentice. Zeshin initially refused, but then took him on as an apprentice, giving Kuniyoshi the pen name "Senshin. In 1831 Ikeda Yasumasa (池田泰真) became one of his disciples. Others were Shoji Takemasa (庄司竹真), Ayaoka Terumatsu (綾岡輝松), Ayaoka Arima (綾岡有真), Takahashi Ohma (高橋応真) Utagawa Hogyoku Suzuki(歌川芳玉), Suzuki Yuoshi (鈴木行真), and Matsuno Ohma (松野応真) who died young. His first son, Kametaro (pen name Reikai, 令哉) and his second son Shinjiro (penname Shin'ya, 真哉) also became his disciples.
Copyright 2008 ff: Hans P. Boehme