The word “sanpo (a stroll, or walk)” is believed to have been first used in Japan during the Kamakura to Nanbokucho period in a collection of Chinese poems, Saihokushu, written by the Rinzai Zen patriarch Kokan Shiren. In kanshi poems titled Baika (Plum Blossoms) and Shun’yu (Spring Outing), Kokan Shiren celebrated the joy of sensing the arrival of spring during a stroll through the fields. This leisurely stroll he described in his poetry has also been depicted in paintings—in Koshi Tanbai zu (Lofty Scholar under Plum) attributed to Ma Yuan (on display during the first half of the exhibition), showing a figure walking under the moonlight in search of plum blossoms; and Urakami Gyokudo’s Yukei Sanpo zu (Traversing the Hidden Valleys) (on display during the second half of the exhibition), meandering through mountains and rivers.

From the Meiji period onward, artists influenced by Western art also explored the motif of sanpo from a variety of perspectives. In Sansaku (Taking a Stroll) (on display during the first half of the exhibition), Kikuchi Keigetsu depicts a girl walking through a lush forest with two dogs. Kanashima Keika’s Gashitsu no Kyaku (Visitor at the Studio) (on display during the second half of the exhibition) is a bold piece that captures the moment a woman stops by the artist’s studio while out walking her dog. Some works focus on fleeting moments in everyday walks when one unexpectedly pauses or sees the scenery in a new light. Ogura Yuki’s Haruhi (Spring Sunlight) portrays the gentle moment of pausing mid-walk and becoming wrapped up in conversation with an acquaintance, while manga artist The word “sanpo (a stroll, or walk)” is believed to have been first used in Japan during the Kamakura to Nanbokucho period in a collection of Chinese poems, Saihokushu, written by the Rinzai Zen patriarch Kokan Shiren. In kanshi poems titled Baika (Plum Blossoms) and Shun’yu (Spring Outing), Kokan Shiren celebrated the joy of sensing the arrival of spring during a stroll through the fields. This leisurely stroll he described in his poetry has also been depicted in paintings—in Koshi Tanbai zu (Lofty Scholar under Plum) attributed to Ma Yuan (on display during the first half of the exhibition), showing a figure walking under the moonlight in search of plum blossoms; and Urakami Gyokudo’s Yukei Sanpo zu (Traversing the Hidden Valleys) (on display during the second half of the exhibition), meandering through mountains and rivers.

From the Meiji period onward, artists influenced by Western art also explored the motif of sanpo from a variety of perspectives. In Sansaku (Taking a Stroll) (on display during the first half of the exhibition), Kikuchi Keigetsu depicts a girl walking through a lush forest with two dogs. Kanashima Keika’s Gashitsu no Kyaku (Visitor at the Studio) (on display during the second half of the exhibition) is a bold piece that captures the moment a woman stops by the artist’s studio while out walking her dog. Some works focus on fleeting moments in everyday walks when one unexpectedly pauses or sees the scenery in a new light. Ogura Yuki’s Haruhi (Spring Sunlight) portrays the gentle moment of pausing mid-walk and becoming wrapped up in conversation with an acquaintance, while manga artist Taniguchi Jiro illustrates in Aruku Hito (The Walks of Life) a detailed portrayal of the neighborhood where he lived for many years.

On the other hand, when examining actions related to strolling, walking from place to place may resemble a stroll but carries a different historical context and purpose. Before Kokan Shiren’s time, Buddhist monks such as Kuya, Ippen, and Ikko Shunjo traveled to various regions, praying for the salvation of people; their journeys are depicted in works like the Kuya Shonin zo (Statue of Saint Kuya). The Buddhist priest-poet Saigyo, who renounced his samurai status to embrace religious life, also traveled extensively across the country, leaving behind numerous waka poems inspired by his journeys, with Saigyo Monogatari Ekotoba (The Illustrated Story of Saigyo) being one of those masterpieces. Yosa Buson’s Matsuo Basho kinhin zo captures the essence of Zen practice known as kinhin, or walking meditation, where monks and devotees devote themselves fully to mindful walking—taking deliberate steps to cultivate a calm, focused mind and body.

The Oh, a Walk! Art Inspired by Walking, From Kuya to Taniguchi Jiro will showcase approximately 70 works, including two Important Cultural Properties, which explore the theme of walking and strolling. The display will change in part throughout the exhibition period. Shiga Museum of Art is situated within a spacious park. We hope you enjoy an artful stroll upon your visit as the rich autumnal colors unfold.