Kaō (painter)

Kaō Ninga (可翁; early 14th century) was a Japanese priest-painter whose work is considered typical of early Muromachi painting. Some of the earliest suiboku works can be attributed to him. He is especially known for his depiction of the legendary monk Kensu (Hsien-tzu in Chinese) at the moment he achieved enlightenment. This type of painting was executed with quick brushstrokes and a minimum of detail.

The biography of Kaō is largely unknown. He is commonly believed to have been a Japanese Zen monk who lived in China for more than ten years. He entered monastic life at a young age and traveled towards the end of the Kamakura period. Upon his return, it is believed that he became the abbot of a Zen temple.