offer expires at 12:01 AM PDT on 9 Jan 2026

Description

皆川淇園 Minagawa Kien (1735-1807) Japanese antique art kakejiku kakemono wall hanging scroll / Vertically Rising Mountain, Castle, and Rivers Sansui Landscape with Box RE201

皆川淇園 Minagawa Kien (1735-1807)
Mid- to late-Edo period diviner and Confucianist in Kyoto. He was especially famous as a researcher of divination and had 3,000 students, including court nobles and lords. He also excelled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. He studied painting under Maruyama Okyo and excelled in Sansui landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds.

Age: 1785 January (Lunar calendar)/ 乙巳孟春
with signature 'Heian Minagawa Gen' 平安皆川愿 and seal 'Kien' 淇園

A finely executed hanging scroll presenting a dramatic sansui landscape dominated by a vertically rising mountain rendered in flowing, layered contours that emphasize height, depth, and spiritual presence rather than strict topographical realism. The sheer rock formations ascend through veils of mist, their elongated forms creating a powerful sense of upward movement and quiet monumentality, while distant peaks dissolve softly into the atmospheric ground. Below, a secluded mountain castle nestled among tall pines introduces a human element that remains harmoniously subordinate to the surrounding natural world, reinforcing the classical literati ideal of retreat and contemplation. Rivers and winding paths guide the eye through the composition, linking foreground and distance with rhythmic continuity and calm balance. Executed on silk with refined brushwork and subtle mineral pigments, the painting reflects Minagawa Kien’s cultivated approach to landscape, informed by his scholarly background and deep engagement with classical Chinese-inspired aesthetics as interpreted within Edo-period Kyoto. The scroll is mounted in an elegant traditional format with wooden roller ends and is accompanied by a storage box. As with all genuine Edo-period works, there are age-related signs including light creases, stains, and areas of wear that are consistent with its period and materials; these features are visible in the photographs and should be regarded as integral to the work’s historical character and authenticity.

Whole dimensions: 25.2" W x 77.1" H / 64.2cm x 196cm
Inside dimensions: 16.8" W x 48.4" H / 42.8cm x 123cm

Material: Silk
Technique: Handpainted
Roller ends: Wood

Weight: 890g including Box

Condition

Antique items have originally crease, stain, damage, and more. I would like you to refer to the listing photos, but please understand that it's difficult to show all conditions by the photos. Special notes: STAIN a little, CREASE a little, WARP, STAIN in the back of the mounting, Box Damage.

About the colors of the photos

The color of the actual item may look different from the picture because of the lighting. The color on a photo can differ because of light, screen settings, personal color perception, etc. Please understand that we can't control the varying light in different environments. Please read the description, check the actual photos, and ask questions if doubts in advance.

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