Who painted Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents?

Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents was painted by Hakuin Ekaku in 1750.

Where can I see Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents?

Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents is held by Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

What movement is Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents?

Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents is associated with Nihonga.

Artwork

Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents

Hakuin Ekaku , 1750

Oyakōkō: Love for One's Parents is an unspecified painting by the Nihonga artist Hakuin Ekaku. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around the middle of the eighteenth century, Oyakōkō: Love for One’s Parents is an ink painting by the Japanese Zen monk Hakuin Ekaku. The work belongs to the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of the artist’s mature brush practice.

Visual Description

The composition is divided by two opposing brushstrokes set against a pale, beige ground. On the right, a thick, dark gray stroke dominates, its surface bearing the imprint of the brush. To the left, a lighter, more translucent gray line offers a softer, almost airy counterpoint, creating a visual dialogue of weight and delicacy.

Technique & Style

Hakuin employs a stark contrast of ink density, allowing the darker mark to convey vigor while the lighter wash suggests restraint. The texture of the heavy stroke reveals a vigorous hand, whereas the faint gray is rendered with a gentle, controlled application, illustrating the artist’s command of both forceful and subtle brushwork within a minimalist setting.

Historical Context

During the Edo period, Zen monks like Hakuin used calligraphic gestures to embody spiritual teachings. This piece, titled after the Confucian ideal of filial devotion, reflects the synthesis of moral instruction and artistic expression that characterized much of Hakuin’s later output, aligning moral content with the expressive possibilities of ink painting.