Hotei 1616

Kano Takanobu painted this image of Hotei with ink and color on paper in the early 17th century. Hotei, the pot-bellied monk, is a popular figure in Zen Buddhism, embodying contentment and abundance. Takanobu, as a member of the Kano school, was patronized by the military government and produced art that reinforced their power. Note how Takanobu appropriates the image of Hotei, a symbol of freedom, for the shogunate. What are the politics of the imagery? During the Edo period, Zen Buddhism became a tool of the ruling class to maintain social order. Kano school artists like Takanobu would have been aware of this. Studying the patronage records of the Kano school and the biographies of its artists helps us understand their work as part of this complex social and institutional history. By analyzing the intersection of art, religion, and politics, we gain a deeper understanding of the public role of art in shaping cultural values.