The hanging scroll was acquired by the Mary Griggs Burke Collection and entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2015 as a gift from the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation. It is now preserved in the museum’s Asian Art Department in New York.
The Stone Bridge of Mount Tiantai with lions is one of the most interesting, yet humble, paintings by the Edo artist Soga Shōhaku (1730-1781). Shōhaku is noted for his rebellious style against the elegant style of Kanō school, which he could share with imaginative palette and dynamic brushstrokes and compositions. He mastered the techniques of the Kanō, Soga and Unkoku schools, and had gradually established an individual school, which followed the methods of Japanese ink painting of the Middle Ages and Zen Buddhism from China. His work is also known for its technical skill and artistic style, which are often unconventional and expressive.
Lions at the Stone Bridge of Mount Tiantai is a hanging scroll in ink and light colour on paper, which depicts a famous Chinese Buddhist legend on the holy Mount Tiantai. The image features two powerful lions, both coming towards a narrow stone bridge, along with a cub, adding a sense of movement and tension, and the surrounding landscape. Shōhaku's brushstrokes, the depth of his inks and his modelling qualities – all these qualities present the animals as vibrant and assert themselves as the dominant element in the pictorial space. The rugged cliffs, the flowing water and the well-balanced negative space contribute to this dramatic scene and spiritual symbolism of the iconic location. Instead of viewing the lions as simple animals, Shōhaku gives them unique personalities and emotions so that viewers can reflect on the concepts of courage, wisdom and enduring. The painting is a fine example of the indomitable creativity of Shōhaku, his ability to meld Chinese thought with Japanese innovation, and the role he played in making him one of the most original painters of the Edo period.
Soga Shohaku was one of the most original painters of the Edo period, known for his bold compositions and expressive style that challenged artistic conventions. In The Stone Bridge of Mount Tiantai with Lions, he transforms a Buddhist legend into a powerful artwork. The lions symbolise courage, strength, and spiritual wisdom, while the narrow stone bridge represents the path towards enlightenment and self-discovery. The dramatic landscape and expressive brushwork create a sense of movement and tension, encouraging viewers to reflect on perseverance, inner strength, and the spiritual journey. Through this composition, Shohaku combines Chinese Buddhist themes with Japanese artistic innovation to create a work of remarkable emotional and symbolic depth.
