Family or group of Japanese painters. They were active from the 15th century to the 18th and are renowned for their powerfully expressive paintings. Although sometimes referred to collectively, they were probably not all members of the same family, nor did they develop a consistent style. The Echizen Soga painters were active during the Muromachi period (1333-1568) in Echizen Province (now Fukui Prefect.), where they served the ruling Asakura clan. Some records identify the founder of the Soga school as the Korean painter Yi Su-mun [Ri Shubun; Hidebumi], who came to Japan from China or Korea in 1424 and is said to have married into the Soga family and been the father of the most famous Echizen Soga painter, Hyobu Bokkei (d 1473). Early documents refer to the Soga painters, but often confuse the identities of the artists. Bokkei was not alone in using the artist's name (go) Jasoku or Dasoku, and other early members of the school possibly included Sojo ( fl before 1512), Shosen ( fl c. 1523), Soyo and Shosho. Bokkei may have studied with TENSHO SHUBUN and was also associated with IKKYU SOJUN, abbot of the Daitokuji in Kyoto. Bokkei and other Echizen Soga painters produced numerous chinso (portraits of Zen priests) of Ikkyu. Bokkei was succeeded by Sojo, who is credited with a masterpiece of Echizen Soga art, the fusuma (sliding door and panels) depicting a Four Seasons Landscape and Flowers and Birds in the Four Seasons (both c. 1491; Kyoto, Daigoji Hojuin Treasury). Extant works by Shosen and Soyo include landscape and figural subjects. Soyo also painted scenes of birds and flowers (kacho). No works by Shosho are known to survive. Later members of the Soga school included (1) Soga Chokuan and (2) Soga Shohaku.
The following members have entries:
See the Abbreviations for further details.
