Chikurin no chōhō

Arai Kanpō’s Chikurin no chōhō is a masterful nihonga painting spanning two hanging scrolls. Its composition is striking: by intentionally excluding the Buddha from the scene, the artist invites the viewer to experience the power of the sermon solely through the captivated expressions of the diverse audience. It is composed of arhats, enlightened disciples of the Buddha, listening with rapt attention; a nobleman and his attendants, who have dismounted from their white horses; and devout women and children with hands clasped in prayer.

The work earned high praise when it was selected for the Fifth Bunten Exhibition in 1911. There, the masterpiece caught the attention of Hara Tomitarō, a prominent art connoisseur and the founder of the Sankeien Garden, who purchased it. This patronage brought Kanpō into the orbit of the great Nihonga painters of his day, including Yokoyama Taikan and Shimomura Kanzan. Inspired by their interest in India, Kanpō’s fascination with Buddhist themes deepened, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion.