Japanese Painters of the Muromachi Period (1338-1573)

The Chinese-art of ink painting was first introduced to the Japanese through trading during the Muromachi period.  The first painters were the Buddist priests who taught Zen Buddism. They regarded these paintings as tools to spread doctrines.

As they started to use painting as a medium in Buddism indoctrination, many art forms started to lose its Buddist quality, such as sculpture.

Famous painters of this period were Shubun (1500), Sesshu (1420–1506) and Josetsu (1425). Their inspiration was of landscapes. In this period, paintings on fusuma, or Japanese screen doors, started.   

Onkoku Togan was another great artist in this period. Inspired by Sesshu, his works include the fusuma paintings found in the Obai-in Temple in Kyoto. In this temple alone can be found 44 fusuma paintings done by him.