Ten Oxherding Songs 1624 - 1638

"Ten Oxherding Songs" is a handscroll painting by the Japanese artist Karasumaru Mitsuhiro, dating to 1624–1638. The scroll, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a single scene, a lone figure standing on a rocky outcropping overlooking a winding river. The scene is simple, rendered in ink with minimal detail, emphasizing the figure’s isolation and contemplation. The scroll’s length, 107 inches, invites the viewer to slowly trace its path, reflecting the meditative journey of the Ten Oxherding Songs, a series of Zen Buddhist poems exploring the path to enlightenment. The painting reflects the artist's deep understanding of Zen philosophy and his skillful use of ink and brushstrokes.