(b Utsunomiya, Shimotsuke Prov. [now Tochigi Prefect.]; fl c. 1478–1506; d c. 1518). Japanese Zen priest and painter. A scribe at Kenchoji in Kamakura, he is often called Kei shoki (‘Clerk Kei’). He first studied painting with Chuan Shinko ( fl c. 1444–57) at Kenchoji, then journeyed to Kyoto in 1478 to study with Shingei Geiami (see AMI, (2)). In 1480 he returned to Kamakura with Geiami’s Kanbakuzu (‘Viewing a Waterfall’; 1480; Tokyo, Nezu A. Mus.), given to him by the artist as a parting gift. Shokei’s training with Shinko and Geiami, as well as his exposure in Kyoto to Chinese Song (AD 960–1279) and Yuan-period (1279–1368) painting in the shogunal collection, led him to paint in a remarkable range of styles. Shokei’s Umazu (‘Horses and Grooms’; Tokyo, Nezu. A. Mus.), for instance, reflects his intimate knowledge of the Yuan painter REN RENFA’s works on the same subject. He is also often associated with the stylistic tradition of TENSHO SHUBUN. Shokei’s most characteristic style, emphasizing swinging horizontal strokes and sharp tonal contrasts, shows an evolution of XIA GUI style as filtered through Geiami. His landscapes (Tokyo, Nezu. A. Mus., Seikado Bunko; Kanazawa Ishikawa Prefect. Mus.) demonstrate the style that was to set the tone for later Kanto-area ink painters. Similarly, the dynamic brushwork in figure paintings such as Shoki bakki gansei-zu (‘Shoki Gouging a Demon’s Eyes’; Nishinomiya, Egawa A. Mus.) and Rakusan Riko mondozu (‘Liao and Yuenshan in Discourse’; Kansas City, MO, Nelson–Atkins Mus. A.) is also reflected in the work of Shokei’s followers, Keison ( fl late 15th century–early 16th), Keiso ( fl early 16th century), Koetsu ( fl late 15th century–early 16th), Choryusai ( fl early 16th century) and Senka ( fl 1520–38).

• Kenko Shokei
  • Japan, §VI, 4(iii)(g): Ink painting in the Muromachi period: Post-Shubun schools
  • Tensho Shubun, §2: Work and influence
  • personal collection
    • Ami: (2) Shingei Geiami
  • works
    • Sesson Shukei, §1: Before c 1560