Attributed to Kano Tan'yu (Japanese 1602-1674), Hotei with His Bag

Hanging scroll, ink and ink wash on paper, features Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japan, in his traditional appearance as a pump bald wandering monk carrying a staff and a large cloth sack, the empty sack became a symbol of his lack of concern for material gain and gave him connotations of good fortune and a popular figure in Zen Buddhist art, two red artist seals to lower left side, wooden rollers, comes together with a tomobako wooden storage box.


DOA 74 1/2 x 22 1/4 in., Image size 40 1/4 x 17 in.

Private Collection, Florida

Exhibited at Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, "Buddhist Visions: Visual Culture and the Middle Way," January 18-April 13, 2008.


Mounting in very worn condition; scattered foxing to paper; some water spots to center of painting.