Picture of Monkey in Dead Trees

painting by Hasegawa Tōhaku

Also known as: “Monkeys in Dead Trees”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The "Picture of Monkey in Dead Trees" is a monochrome ink painting by Hasegawa Tōhaku, a prominent Japanese painter of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1574–1600) and founder of the Hasegawa school of painting. This style of painting, known as suiboku-ga, originated in China and was brought to Japan by Zen Buddhist monks. Suiboku-ga emphasizes the essential character of the subject through bold ink strokes and washes, aligning with Zen Buddhist principles. Tōhaku's work is characterized by an "elegant simplicity" (kotan), and this particular painting exemplifies his mastery of the black-ink style.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Hasegawa Tōhaku
…Forest” (Tokyo National Museum) and “Picture of Monkey in Dead Trees” (Ryōsen Temple, part of Myōshin Temple). Having been a Nichiren-sect Buddhist, he was associated with Nittsū, the holy priest of the Honpō Temple, who recorded Tōhaku’s theory of painting in “Tōhaku ga-in” (“Studio of Tōhaku”) in the 1590s. In…
Read More
…Forest” (Tokyo National Museum) and “Picture of Monkey in Dead Trees” (Ryōsen Temple, part of Myōshin Temple). Having been a Nichiren-sect Buddhist, he was associated with Nittsū, the holy priest of the Honpō Temple, who recorded Tōhaku’s theory of painting in “Tōhaku ga-in” (“Studio of Tōhaku”) in the 1590s. In…
Read More