Pines and Flowering Plants at Chishakuin
The Pines and Flowering Plants (Color on Gold Ground Paper; four panels for the alcove and two for the walls) (紙本金地著色松に草花図〈床貼付四／壁貼付二〉) is a Momoyama-period gold-ground wall painting held by Chishakuin in Higashigawara-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, made up of four alcove panels and two wall panels, and designated a National Treasure on March 29, 1952. It is part of the Chishakuin wall paintings by Hasegawa Tohaku and his workshop.
In the Agency for Cultural Affairs' records it is branch 01 of designation number 00041, whose other branches include the Cherry and Maple, Pine and Plum, and Pine, Hollyhock and Chrysanthemum paintings of Chishakuin. Pines and flowering plants are painted in colour on paper covered in gold leaf.
Why It Is a National Treasure
According to the Kyoto City Foundation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, the Chishakuin paintings come from the guest hall of Shounji, the temple Toyotomi Hideyoshi built in memory of his first son Tsurumatsu, who died aged three in 1591, and were probably finished by the third-year memorial service in 1593. They were painted by Hasegawa Tohaku (1539 to 1610), his son Kyuzo and the Hasegawa workshop; of the more than 100 panels thought to have existed, some 20 principal ones survive after two fires and thefts.
The same commentary sees the graceful world of huge trees and delicate seasonal flowers as characteristic of the high Momoyama period, and argues that Tohaku adopted Kano Eitoku's monumental trees but surrounded them with flowers, marking a shift in taste from grandeur to elegance. Shounji's buildings were given to Chishakuin by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1615.
What to Look For
Look at the pairing of the massive pine with the flowering plants around its base. The foundation's commentary suggests Tohaku intended a contrast between the enduring giant tree and the fragile flowers that wither when winter comes.
Notice the gold ground too. Painted for an alcove and walls, the six panels let you imagine the large-scale decoration of the original guest-hall room.
Seeing the Painting
According to the Japan Tourism Agency's commentary, Chishakuin's wall paintings are kept in the temple's storehouse, where works such as Pine and Autumn Grasses are preserved alongside Cherry Blossoms and Maple. The Kyoto City foundation describes the National Treasure paintings as stored and displayed in the temple's treasure hall.
Chishakuin's website was under maintenance on October 4, 2026, so viewing hours, admission and display status could not be confirmed. Check with the temple (075-541-5361) before visiting. The address is 964 Higashigawara-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto.
Q&A
- Who painted the Pines and Flowering Plants?
- Hasegawa Tohaku and his workshop; it is part of the Hasegawa school wall paintings at Chishakuin.
- When was it designated a National Treasure?
- On March 29, 1952.
- Where were the Chishakuin paintings originally?
- In the guest hall of Shounji, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in memory of his son Tsurumatsu and probably finished by 1593.
- What should I look for in the Pines and Flowering Plants?
- The pairing of a massive pine with delicate flowers, read by some as a contrast between permanence and transience.
- Can I see the Pines and Flowering Plants?
- The paintings are kept and displayed in Chishakuin's storehouse; with the temple website under maintenance, check viewing conditions with the temple.
Basic Information
| Name | Pines and Flowering Plants (Color on Gold Ground Paper; four panels for the alcove and two for the walls) (紙本金地著色松に草花図〈床貼付四／壁貼付二〉) |
|---|---|
| Location | 964 Higashigawara-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture (Chishakuin) |
| Designation | National Treasure (Fine Arts and Crafts: Painting) |
| Year Designated | National Treasure 1952/3/29 (Showa 27) |
| Quantity | 4 alcove panels, 2 wall panels |
| Dimensions | Not recorded |
| Owner | Chishakuin |
| Public Access | Displayed in the storehouse (treasure hall); viewing conditions to be confirmed |
References
- 紙本金地著色松に草花図〈床貼付四／壁貼付二〉 (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/201/44
- Early wall paintings of Kyoto 1: Hasegawa Tohaku (Kyoto City Foundation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage)
- https://www.kyobunka.or.jp/learn/learn_art/1994.php
- Storehouse: National Treasure wall paintings (Japan Tourism Agency multilingual commentary database)
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/common/001554773.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.04