A Japanese hanging scroll painting of a meditating skeleton
Late Edo period, first half 19th century
H. 211 x W. 70 cm
This striking depiction of a skeleton seated in meditative contemplation serves as a potent memento mori, underscoring both the inevitability of death and the possibility of transcending corporeal existence through Buddhist practice. The composition may draw upon an established Japanese Buddhist theme, 'the Kusōzu' (“Nine Stages of a Decaying Corpse”). This didactic visual sequence, consisting of nine progressive images illustrating the decomposition of the human body, was designed to prompt reflection on the transience of life.
H. 211 x W. 70 cm
This striking depiction of a skeleton seated in meditative contemplation serves as a potent memento mori, underscoring both the inevitability of death and the possibility of transcending corporeal existence through Buddhist practice. The composition may draw upon an established Japanese Buddhist theme, 'the Kusōzu' (“Nine Stages of a Decaying Corpse”). This didactic visual sequence, consisting of nine progressive images illustrating the decomposition of the human body, was designed to prompt reflection on the transience of life.
Part of the Japan collection.
Related objects
A Japanese scroll painting depicting the VOC trade-post Deshima island in the bay of Nagasaki by Kõdõ
According to the text on the scroll the Shogunate government, called Bafuku, issued a new regulation for Nagasaki called Shoutoku Shinei, in the year Shoutoku 5 nen (circa 1715), to restrict the number of annual ships and the amount of trading in order to limit export of gold, silver and copper from Japan. The painting depicts the situation of Deshima around the middle of the 18th century.
A Japanese colour Nagasaki-e print depicting a Dutch chief with a Javanese servant and a dog in a European landscape
