Landscape in Moonlight 1663 - 1674

Kano Tan'yū crafted this ink-wash landscape on silk, evoking a scene bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Mountains rise from a sea of clouds, their peaks shrouded in mist, a humble village nestles at the foot of the mountains. Here, the mountain is more than a mere geographical feature, it is a potent symbol resonating across cultures. Think of the sacred mountains in Chinese art and philosophy, like Kunlun, believed to be the dwelling place of immortals, connecting heaven and earth. We see echoes of this reverence in the Shinto beliefs of Japan, where mountains are also considered the sacred homes of spirits, much like Mount Olympus in ancient Greece. The cyclical nature of the mists, ever-changing and elusive, also speaks to the transient nature of life itself, prompting reflection on the eternal dance of creation and dissolution. These images are not confined to a single moment but ripple through time, adapting and evolving, forever reminding us of the deep-seated human connection to the world around us.