Wind and Thunder Gods (Fūjin-Raijin-zu)

Tawaraya Sōtatsu painted the wind god Fūjin (green, carrying a bag of winds) and the thunder god Raijin (white, drumming) on a pair of six-panel folding screens. Between them: nothing. A vast expanse of gold leaf where a normal Japanese screen would have clouds, waves or landscape. Sōtatsu left it bare. The gold isn't background — it's active, philosophical space; wind and thunder crossing an empty universe. Sōtatsu founded what became the Rimpa school, whose defining move was to treat decoration as philosophy. Ogata Kōrin copied the composition a century later. Now at Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto @kenninjitemple