Shrike on a Withered Tree (Nishijin textile)

This woven work is an ink and wash painting by Miyamoto Musashi, a master swordsman of the two swordsmanship styles. At first glance, the painting appears quiet, but from the perspective of a martial artist who also enjoyed calligraphy and painting as a means of training in the art of war, it seems to capture beautifully the tense moment before the tension is broken between the shrike, which keeps its eyes sharply fixed on the shrike, and the insect crawling slowly up the branch.

The essence of this ink painting is expressed by using only shades of black to create a three-dimensional effect and by omitting shapes. Although the work is all black, the shading and the flow of each brushstroke create a whole, making it an extremely delicate work. By combining only four colors of threads in various ways, such as blotting, grazing, and blurring, the Nishijin weavers have successfully woven this delicate ink in various shades.