Gosenken Museum
This museum celebrates the accomplishments of the “five sages” (gosenken) who were born in Nagahama. The sages (a monk, a painter, a samurai, a tea master, and a poet) lived in different eras and were active in different fields, but they all made notable contributions to Japanese history and culture.
The museum’s displays include personal effects, such as a statue of the Buddhist deity Kannon owned by the samurai Katagiri Katsumoto, and other items, such as a set of white pilgrim’s garb (shiroshōzoku) worn by monks engaging in ascetic training. The accompanying panels are in Japanese, and travelers from overseas will most enjoy their visit if accompanied by a certified regional interpreter.
The five sages of Nagahama are:
Sōō Kashō (831–918). A Buddhist monk known for his ascetic practices, including kaihōgyō, a grueling 1,000-day walking pilgrimage of Mt. Hiei.
Kaihō Yūshō (1533–1615). A painter of the Kanō school who later established his own unique style. His work ranged from austere ink sketches to lavishly gilded landscapes.
Katagiri Katsumoto (1556–1615). A samurai retainer of the daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537–1598) and a celebrated warrior who distinguished himself at the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583.
Kobori Enshū (1579–1647). A renowned tea master and designer of gardens who taught chadō (the “way of tea”) to shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604–1651).
Ono Kozan (1814–1910). A poet known for his works of classical Chinese verse who was personally recognized by Emperor Meiji (1852–1912).
