The Chinese theme “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang” (Rivers) has been woven into the cultural fabric of Japanese literature and art since its introduction in the 1200s. Kosugi Hōan Misei completed this scroll after traveling to the lush river region of Hunan Province in 1916.

Noted historian Naitō Konan added the title calligraphy, and Matsuse Seisei, a well-regarded poet, brushed eight haiku to complement Kosugi’s scenes. The joint effort speaks to the tradition of collaborative works in Japanese art.