Portrait of the Priest Ikkyū Sōjun

一休宗純像

At a glance — Painting · Muromachi period, 15th century · held by Nara National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Paintings
Period: Muromachi period, 15th century
Date: 1401–1500
Dimensions: H 113.1, W 56.1
Held by: Nara National Museum
Location: Nara Park, Nara
Catalogue ID: cobas-14933

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Same period: Muromachi paintings →
At this museum: All 301 works here →

This is the oldest extant portrait of Ikkyū Sōjun (1394–1481), a Zen priest in the Daitokuji branch of the Rinzai school. Ikkyū himself inscribed this painting when he was 54. There is a sword in a large vermillion sheath beside him, though it is in fact a wooden sword: this is a subtle critique of society’s value only for what is beautiful on the outside.

— Museum description: Nara National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-14933 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-14933
Holder's collection: ColBase — Nara National Museum
Photograph: Nara National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Portrait of the Priest Ikkyū Sōjun（一休宗純像）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-14933. Nara National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/portrait-of-the-priest-ikky-s-jun/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)

Genre: Paintings
Material: Hanging scroll; ink and colors on silk
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Category: Paintings, sketches, and prints:Japan:Other
Size: H 113.1, W 56.1
員数: １幅
分類: 絵画
種別: 絵画:日本:その他
品質形状: 絹本著色金泥掛幅
法量: 本紙：縦113.8 横56.9 表具：縦225.7 横71.0

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