the Daoist Immortal Huang Chuping 

Kanō Motonobu painted ‘the Daoist Immortal Huang Chuping’ in ink, during the Muromachi period in Japan, a time of cultural flourishing under the Ashikaga shogunate. Motonobu, as head of the Kanō school, merged Japanese and Chinese painting styles. Huang Chuping, a figure from Chinese Daoist lore, is rendered with delicate brushwork, embodying serenity and harmony with nature. Daoism emphasized simplicity, spontaneity, and transcendence of worldly concerns. The choice of subject reflects the Kanō school's interest in Chinese culture and philosophy, as well as the artist’s personal spiritual interests. This artwork invites us to contemplate the ideals of spiritual enlightenment, the simple, contemplative life, and the deep connections between humanity and the natural world. The figure’s gentle interaction with the earth evokes the emotional and personal dimensions of Daoist practice.