Hishida Shunsō

1. Overview

Hishida Shunso (菱田 春草_{Hishida Shunsō}^Japanese, September 21, 1874 - September 16, 1911) was a prominent Japanese painter during the Meiji period, recognized for his pivotal role in the innovation and modernization of Nihonga (Japanese-style painting). A disciple of Okakura Tenshin, alongside contemporaries like Yokoyama Taikan and Shimomura Kanzan, Hishida challenged traditional artistic conventions. He is particularly known for developing the "moro-tai" (vague style), an experimental technique that eliminated traditional outlines in favor of color gradation to achieve atmospheric effects. Although initially met with criticism, this innovative approach, later integrated with traditional line drawing, significantly influenced the evolution of modern Nihonga. His artistic journey included extensive travels to India, the United States, and Europe, where he exhibited his works and engaged in cultural exchange. His contributions, though cut short by his early death, left a lasting impact on Japanese art, pushing the boundaries of expression and contributing to a dynamic period of cultural evolution. His real name was Hishida Miyoji (三男治_Miyoji^Japanese).

2. Biography

2.3. Career Development and Nihon Bijutsuin

Upon graduating in 1895 at the age of 21, Shunso was commissioned by the Imperial Household Museum (now the Tokyo National Museum) to undertake a significant project copying ancient religious paintings at Buddhist temples in Kyoto and Nara from the autumn of that year through the following year. He also served as a teacher at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō.

In 1898, a controversy led to Okakura Tenshin's resignation as director of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, reportedly due to opposition from conservative factions. In solidarity, Shunso, Taikan, and Kanzan, who were then teachers at the school, also left. They joined Okakura Tenshin in establishing the Nihon Bijutsuin (日本美術院_{Nihon Bijutsuin}^Japanese), an independent art organization. In 1906, Shunso relocated to Izura (五浦_Izura^Japanese) in Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, where the Nihon Bijutsuin had moved its institute. There, he dedicated himself to his artistic endeavors alongside Taikan and Kanzan.

3. Artistic Career and Style

4. Major Works

Hishida Shunso created a significant body of work throughout his career, many of which are designated as Important Cultural Properties. His works often explored themes of nature, classical literature, and Buddhist figures, while showcasing his innovative techniques.

• Widow and Orphan (寡婦と孤児, 1895, Tokyo University of the Arts) - His graduation work, highly rated. It is likely based on the "Rebellion of Kitayama-dono" from Volume 13 of Taiheiki.
• Reflection in the Water (水鏡, 1897, Tokyo University of the Arts)
• Six Immortal Poets (六歌仙, 1899, Eisei Bunko, entrusted to Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art)
• Autumn Landscape (秋景 渓山紅葉, 1899, Shimane Art Museum)
• Chrysanthemum Boy (菊慈童, 1900, Iida City Museum)
• Moon after The Snow (雪後の月, 1902, Shiga Museum of Art)
• Wong Zhaojun (王昭君, 1902, Zenpo-ji Temple, entrusted to National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Important Cultural Property)
• Cat and Plum Blossoms (猫梅, 1906, Adachi Museum of Art)

• Bodhisattva Kenshu (賢首菩薩, 1907, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Important Cultural Property)
• Fallen Leaves (落葉, 1909, Eisei Bunko, entrusted to Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Important Cultural Property) - A masterpiece that achieved rational spatial expression in Japanese painting using aerial perspective, while employing traditional screen format.
• Black Cat (黒き猫, 1910, Eisei Bunko, entrusted to Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Important Cultural Property) - His last work exhibited at the Bunten. It was completed in just five days after an initial attempt at a different subject was abandoned. The model cat was borrowed from a local baked sweet potato vendor.

The following table provides a more detailed list of his works:

5. Personal Life

Hishida Shunso's wife, Chiyo, was the daughter of Nogami Muneo, a former Chōshū Domain samurai and a Second Lieutenant in the Army Transport Corps. After her father's early death in 1889, Chiyo was taken in by her mother's family, the Ishida family of the Iida Domain, which led to her meeting Shunso.

Shunso had notable siblings. His elder brother, Hishida Tamekichi (菱田為吉_{Hishida Tamekichi}^Japanese), was a professor at the Tokyo Butsuri Gakko (now Tokyo University of Science), and polyhedral models he created are preserved at the Tokyo University of Science Museum of Modern Science. His younger brother, Hishida Yuizo (菱田唯蔵_{Hishida Yuizo}^Japanese), became a professor at both Kyushu Imperial University and Tokyo Imperial University. Shunso's eldest son, Hishida Haruo (菱田春夫_{Hishida Haruo}^Japanese), later became a distinguished art appraiser.

6. Death

In his final years, Hishida Shunso suffered from severe kidney disease, specifically nephritis, which also affected his eyesight, leading to retinitis. Driven by a fear of blindness, he painted frantically during periods when his illness was in remission. Despite his deteriorating health, he continued to produce significant works, including Ochiba (Fallen Leaves), which won the highest award at the third Bunten Exhibition in 1909. Hishida Shunso died of kidney disease on September 16, 1911, just five days before his 37th birthday. His early death was deeply mourned by his mentors and peers, including Okakura Tenshin and Yokoyama Taikan.

7. Legacy and Evaluation

8. Philately

Hishida Shunso and his artworks have been honored on Japanese commemorative postage stamps. In 1951, Hishida Shunso himself was featured as the subject of a commemorative postage stamp as part of the Cultural Leaders Series issued by Japan Post. Later, in 1979, one of his most famous works, Black Cat, was selected as the subject of a commemorative postage stamp as part of the Modern Art Series.

9. Memorials and Homages

To honor Hishida Shunso's legacy, his birthplace in Nakanomachi, Iida City, was developed into the Hishida Shunso Birthplace Park (菱田春草生誕地公園_{Hishida Shunso Seitan-chi Kōen}^Japanese), which opened on March 29, 2015. The park features a roofed bench that recreates the veranda of his childhood home, along with a garden planted with the flowers he favored in his paintings. The park's maintenance is overseen by a local residents' organization called the "Shunso Park Lovers' Association." The Iida City Museum also has a permanent exhibition room dedicated to Hishida Shunso, showcasing his works and preserving his connection to his hometown.