Mori Seizan (?-?) "Benzaiten and a dragon" Middle to late Edo period

Art work details

Shipping table

Setting weight
This piece weighs 1.25 kg and will be shipped in 100 size.

Material
Japanese pigments on silk

Size
Overall: vertical 189.5× width 65cm＊width does not include roller ends.
(the work: vertical 116× width 50.7cm)

Condition
・There are burns, stains, wrinkles, floats, peeling off on the Japanese paper on the back of the cover.
・There are some burns, stains, wrinkles on the image.
・There are burns, stains, wrinkles, warp in the mounting.

Remarks
・Roller ends is Bone.
・There is no signature on the box.

Materials for mounting
All of them are made of silk.

Other
There is a note about shipping restrictions and VAT. Please check before purchase.
*There may be a slight difference in color between the photo and the actual product.

Notes on shipping

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Biography
Mori Seizan (?-?)

His first name was Katsu. His characters are Shirei. 
He was from Kishu Kumano. 
He was a painter around the Bunsei period(1818-1829). 
His birth and death years are unknown.

From the store

Benzaiten and the Dragon. It is very rare to find these two motifs depicted together.

Benzaiten is the only goddess among the Seven Lucky Gods. She is revered as a deity of happiness, artistic accomplishment, matchmaking, and love fulfillment. Additionally, she is also a goddess of the sea (water).

Similarly, the dragon is a legendary creature that controls water, governing seas and rivers.

This motif is believed to be based on a legend from Enoshima (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture).

The story is as follows:

"Once upon a time, there was a large lake in Fukasawa Village, Kamakura. A fierce dragon with five heads lived there and tormented the villagers. This dragon loved children and would attack the village, devouring them. The villagers kept their children indoors, but the dragon would rage, causing landslides, floods, and burning crops with its fiery breath. In despair, the villagers offered children as sacrifices, living in fear.

One day, Enoshima emerged from the sea, and Benzaiten descended with a young girl. The dragon fell in love with Benzaiten and proposed marriage, but she refused, citing the dragon's wicked deeds. This rejection made the dragon realize its wrongdoing, and it changed its heart, dedicating itself to the villagers. Some say that Benzaiten eventually married the dragon, while others believe the dragon transformed into a mountain. This story illustrates the transformative power of love on the dragon's heart."

Perhaps the dragon's slightly enamored expression reflects this story, suggesting they became a couple.

The artist Mori Seizan is an almost unknown painter from the Edo period. However, his ability to vividly depict the imaginary Benzaiten and the dragon is astonishing.

Moreover, the bold lines and shading in the depiction of the cave background show the influence of the Kano school. Enjoy this unique story of the dragon and Benzaiten, painted by a skilled artist rooted in the Kano school.