Stand-in Fugen

StatusReference work · Not for sale

Held byCleveland Museum of Art

Own a comparable work? Consign with us

✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing

Here, a woman dressed as a man replaces Fugen, a bodhisattva—a being among those considered enlightened in Buddhism—who symbolizes learning as a path to awakening and typically rides an elephant. The painting teaches the lesson of impermanence through the petals falling from the lotus flower the woman holds. It also alludes to the legend of Eguchi, a 12th-century courtesan who, following an encounter with a Buddhist monk-poet called Saigyō, revealed herself to be a manifestation of Fugen.

Artist / Maker	Kitao Masayoshi
Date	late 1700s–early 1800s
Culture / Origin	Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium	hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions	Painting only: 114.3 x 56.2 cm (45 x 22 1/8 in.); Including mounting: 186.7 x 76.2 cm (73 1/2 x 30 in.)
Department	Japanese Art
Type	Painting

About the Artist

BiographyKitao Masayoshi (1764–1824) — Japanese artist (1764-1824).Kitao Masayoshi worked as painter and ukiyo-e artist and is associated with Japan. Their documented life spans the years 1764 to 1824, born in Edo.Disciplinespainter, ukiyo-e artistBorn1764, EdoDied1824NationalityJapanSources: Wikidata Full biography →

Provenance & Source

Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.

Condition

A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.

Shipping & Collection

Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.

Buying at Matchless Pieces

Register, verify your identity, and bid online or in a private room. Buyer’s premium and taxes are shown before you confirm.