Database: Kano Painting

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The Kanō school, which came to dominate the Japanese art world during the Edo period, started with Kanō Masanobu. He was an artist of the Muromachi shogunate in the late 15th century, who used the Chinese painting styles of the Song and Yuan dynasties. His son, Motonobu, created a new style that combined Chinese painting with Yamato-e Japanese technique, thereby creating the signature style of the school.

Motonobu's grandson, Eitoku, became one of the leading painters of the late 16th century. He was extensively employed by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi to paint murals, and decorate the doors and walls of some of the most famous castles of the time, including Azuchi Castle, Osaka Castle, and Juraku-dai Castle in Kyoto.

Later generations also aligned themselves with ruling powers. In particular, Eitoku's grandson Tan'yū, who demonstrated talent from a very young age and succeeded in establishing the position of the Kano School in the art world. Tan'yu's brothers and descendants led the shogunate's painters throughout the Edo period, creating paintings to decorate Edo Castle, the emperor's palace, temples, and more (as ordered by the shogunate). Many members of the school and their apprentices painted in the service of local feudal lords or at the request of ordinary townspeople, helping the influence of the Kano School to spread throughout the country.