Ganku
Ganku (born 1756, Kanazawa, Japan—died Jan. 19, 1839, Kyōto) was a Japanese painter of the late Tokugawa period who established the Kishi school of painting.
A retainer of Prince Arisugawa in Kyōto and a holder of high rank, Ganku studied various styles of painting, including those of the Maruyama school, known for its realism, and of the Chinese painter Shen Nan-p’in, who had visited Japan in 1731. Ganku developed a realistic solid style and painted portraits, landscapes, flowers, and birds. He was particularly noted for his pictures of tigers.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Ganku
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
15 January 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026