Kaga no Chiyo | Painting

A mendicant monk walks, rhythmically beating gongs and gourds while chanting Buddhist prayers. His voice, cast into the valleys and returning as echoes, accompanies him on his way. The scene, both devotional and resonant, intertwines human practice with the voice of nature. The echo becomes not merely a sound but a spiritual companion, blurring the boundary between the physical act of chanting and nature’s response.
This reflection, first appearing in Chiyo-ni Kushu (1764) when she was 62, demonstrates her deep engagement with Buddhist imagery and the rhythms of seasonal life. Signed and sealed by the artist.
 
Mountains echo
my footfall and gong - 
Strike!
 
山彦を　
つれて歩行や　
鉢たたき
 
Yamabiko o
tsurete ariku ya
hachitataki
 
Kaga no Chiyo, Chiyo-ni (1703–1775)
Painting with poem
Ink on paper
83.8 x 16.4 cm (33 x 6 ½ in.)
Mounting 142 x 24,5 cm (56 x 9½ in.)
Box with collector's label