‘Gei’ is God; ‘Jutsu’ is Human.
Tenkei TACHIBANA
（1906〜1984）
People talk with each other to distinguish oneself from the others. People discover new paths, one after another, in order to become one with the scenery. People encounter the fresh green under the soft brightness of the early spring. People realize the greatness of the infinitely spacious universe through the early sprouts of grass. What is art….? Just as Japanese architecture is such, art is the desire of man to become united with nature. It is fundamentally different from the concept of the Western architecture which sharply rise towards the sky, as if to aggrandize the human being.
For an artist who reveres Japanese traditional beauty and wishes to further expand it, his process of deciding what to incorporate and what to discard from the modern world is the artist’s creativity and statement. When I dissect the word “gei-jutsu” (means “art” in Japanese) into ‘gei’ and ‘jutsu’, I think of ‘gei’ as God, or Nature itself, and of ‘jutsu’ as technique, or the craft of a human. When the craft becomes one with God, an almost religiously clear spirit crystallizes.
The fate of an artist is to portray his sensation on a white canvas plentifully and yet without pretense. Thus, an artist must challenge the society by expressing vague concepts such as lively beauty and quiet harmony through his specific works of art.
CAREER AND WORKS OF TACHIBANA TENKEI
A Chronological Chart
Name - Nakayamayoshifumi
Preudonym - Tachibana Tenkei ( 1950 - 1984 )
Earlier name - Sonobe Koho ( 1922 - 1949 )
Tachibana Koka ( 1949 - 1950 )
1906
-Born in Kyoto.
1922
-Entered Ueno Fine Arts School
1926
-Studied Buddhistic fine arts : painted "Buddha's Image"(180X303) at Kannenji Temple in Yamaguchi.
1927
-Painted "Mural painting" at Zendouji Temple in Fukuoka.
Donated 50 paintaings for the purpose of road repairs in Takachiho, Miyazaki
1928
-Painted "Descendant of The Gods" requested by Miyazaki Prefecture.
1929
-Exhibited "Pond Area" at the Dokugaten on invitation by Araki Juppo's recommendation.
1930
-The exhibition "Japanese Paintings by Sonobe Koho in Commenmoration of His Trip to Italy", sponsored by Fukuoka Newspaper Press, in Fukuoka.
Exhibited to "Esposizione D'Arts Giapponese" in Rome, sponsored by Italian Government.
1933
-Studied in Thailand, India and Europe.
The exhibition at the Thai National Art Gallery."The Dawn of Menam", acquired by Thai National Art Gallery.
1934
-The exhibition in Singapore.
1935
-Exhibition paintings in Bun-Ten (a top national exhibition) by invitation during overseas sojourn.
1936
-Visited Canton and various place in China.
The exhibition at Gloster Hotel in Hong kong.
The exhibition at Tokyo after returning home.
1938
-Presented the "Defeating the Devil"( 273X303 ) to the Italian Premier Mussolini through Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The painting is now in the collection of an Italian National Museum.
Exhibited "Joy"( 273X546 ) at No.12-Shinkozoten. acquired by The Headquarters of The Manchuria Kyowakai Society.
Established the Nitto Fine Arts Institute. Its reception was attended by personages from the Ministry of Education and Arts circles as well as Ambassadors of Germany, Italy and Manchuria.
1939
-Awarded an Order of Cultural Merits by Italian Government.
1940
-Established the Manchurian Fine Arts Institute upon the request of the Manchurian Government ; recommended Kawabata Ryushi as its committee Chairman.
Donated 20 paintings of Mount Fuji to Japanese emigrant village in Manchurian.
Exhibited "Quickening Asia"( 273X485 ) at No.13 - Shinkozoten.
1941
-The First Public Art Exhibition of Nitto Fine Arts Institute at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Gallery. "The Exhibishment of Righteousness and the Security of the Country"( 273X1515), acquired by Department of Army.
1942
-The Second Exhibition of Nitto Fine Arts Institute.
"Early Spring"( 272X480 ), acquired by the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Portrait of Imperial Prince Takaoka"( 303X545 ), acquired by Department of Army.
1943
-Succeeded reform of the Tokyo Art School together with Yokoyama Taikan and Education Minister Okabe.
Exhibited "Fighting Spirit"( 242X303 )
1945
-Met with Gen. MacArthur to recommend the preservation of the emperor system.
1946
-Appointed Art Consultant to the U.S.Navy through the recommendation of Yokoyama Taikan and Lieutenant General White.
1948
-Petitionated Gen. MacArthur against the death penalt for 12 of the A-class war criminals.
Resigned as Art Consultant to the U.S.Navy that trained young peple at private school Shoei-Jiku after returning to Shiraito of Shizuoka.
1949
-Advice by Prof. Nishida Massaaki of Tokyo Art School "Be inspired by a person's spirit" thereafter assuming the Pseudonym, Tachibana Koka.
1950
-Tenkei says that May 30, "While sitting with moving whiteclouds and ever changing scenery. While observing , I felt shivers as if doused by cold water over my whole body, was shocked at the awesome reverence of nature's grandeur, was lost in wonder, hearing shouts,.........."
"Tenkei Tenkei' ( revere heaven, revere heaven ) coming as if from a heavenly voice...", immediately I renamed myself Tachibana Tenkei.
Began to work on a series of screen paintings.
1952
-The exhibition of "Tachibana Tenkei Shinsaku Kai" at Tokyo Kaikan.
Painted "Mount Fuji and Sea of Clouds"( 218X1100)
1954
-Painted "Mount Fuji", acquired by Ministry of Finance.
1955
-Painted "Vairochana Buddha"( 218X550 )
1956
-Painted "Early Summer of Mount Fuji"( 218X550 )
1957
-The exhibition of “Tachibana Tenkei Ten“ at the Industrial Club of Marunouchi, Tokyo.
1960
-The exhibition at the Mexican National Art Gallery in Mexico City by request of the Mexican Government, which subsequently traveled to major cities in Mexico.
Painted “Literary and Military Arts” (218X 1100)
Painted ”Mount Fuji and a Lake”(218X1100)
Painted “Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom”(218X1100)
1962
-Presented Tenkei’s screen painting “Mount Fuji and Sea of Clouds”(painted 1952) to Mr. Robert F. Kennedy at Shiba Shirogame Guest House after exhibiting the painting to over three hundred dignitaries whose signatures were presented to Mr. Kennedy with the painting ; this was planned executed by Mr. Hosono Gunji, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Foreign Affairs Study Association. After demise of Mr. Robert F. Kennedy, the above screen painting acquired by Freer Gallery of Art. Washington DC. Painted “Early Spring”(218X550)
1963
-Painted “Innocent Light”(218X1100), acquired by Ikegami Honmonji Temple.
Painted “The Bodhisattva Kannon”(218X550)
Painted “Flying-Fish”(218X1100)
1964
-Appointed Member of International Policies Committee in U.S.
Painted “Spring at the Sun-warmed Palace”(178X512)
1965
-The exhibition “The Art of Tenkei Tachibana” at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo.
Donated Tenkei’s screen painting “The Spirit of Eight Islands-Japan”(218X1100) to Meiji Shrine.
Presented the screen painting “Self-composed and Infine”(218X1100) to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek on behalf of the Japanese people in gratitude for his considerations at the closing of the world war.
1966
-Lectured on “Japanese Art” at West Texas State University.
Received Honorary Professorship from West Texas State University.
Elected Member of Texas State Academy and Troy University in Alabama state.
Made Honorary Citizen of Texas State, Amarillo City and Canyon City.
Decorated with Grand Orders by Byzantine Knight Corps, St. John Knight Corps and Mexican Government.
The exhibitions Canyon Art Gallery of Texas, National First bank of Washington DC and The Oriental Fine Art Gallery of New York.
-1970
-The exhibition “Screen Painting by Tachibana Tenkei” at the Tokyo Art Club, in Tokyo.
Painted “Blooming Iris”(222X714) four sides of the sliding door, “Living Clean at One Own’s Pace between Heaven and Earth”(222X1414) “Calm and Passion(The God of the Wind Resting and the Thunder-God in Action)”(218X1100) and “in Nature”(50X180)
1971
-The exhibition “The Art of Screen Painting by Tachibana Tenkei” at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Canyon City, Texas.
1.”Mout Fuji and Clouds”(218X1100) painted in 1952.
2. ”Lording it over The World”(218X550) painted in 1954.
3. ”Steep Blue Hills”(218X550) painted in 1954.
4 ”Red Plum Blossoms and Cat”(218X550) painted in 1955.
5 ”Clear Stream”(218X1100) painted in 1956.
6 ”Living Clean at One Qwn’s Pace between Heaven and Earth”1970.
The above 6 screen paintings acquired by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Canyon City, Texas.
1972
-“Calm and Passion (The God of the wind Resting and the Thunder-God in Action)”(218X1100) painted in 1970, acquired by Freer Gallery of Art. Washington DC.
At the Nippon Fortnight exhibited 9 screen paintings at the Neiman-Marcus, a leading department store in Dallas, Texas.
1975
-The exhibition “Tachibana Tenkei no Geijutu” at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tokyo.
Painted “Peace & Concord”(248X1464), ”Song of the Harp in Springtime”(Plum trees and Show)(218X1464)
1976
-In April, The exhibition at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Exhibited “The Sprit of Eight Islands-Japan”(1965) ,“The Seas of the world…”(1968) and, painted “Symbol of Eternal Peace”(218X1100)
In May, The exhibition of “L’ART DE TENKEI TACHIBANA” supported by the Japanese Embassy in France at the Galerie Drouant in Paris, France.
Awarded an Order of “Medal of Cultural Merit (Gold Metal)” by the City of Paris.
1978
-October, The exhibition at Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
exhibited “Cherry-blossoms in Memory of Dr. H.P.Stern”(270X1600)
In November, The exhibition at The Iwataya Department Store in Fukuoka exhibited “The Buddhist Deity Fudo Myo-o”(180X550)
In November, ordained in the Buddhist priesthood by Nishiguchi Kugyo, Shingon archbishop at headquarters, Daihonzan Kokubunji temple.
1979
-In January, The exhibition at The Hankyu Department Store in Osaka.
1980
-In June, The exhibition at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon City, Texas. Exhibited screen painting “Cherry-blossoms in Memory of Dr. H.P.Stern”, acquired by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
In July, The exhibition at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka.
1981
-In May, stricken by illness, began life or recuperation.
In September, The exhibition at Ginza Gallery Center.
1982
-In May, Screen painting “Song of the Harp in Springtime”(Plum trees and Snow)(248X1464) painted in 1975, acquired by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City, Missouri.
In June 1st, Demise.
1993
-THE TACHIBANA TENKEI EXHIBTION “Tenkei’s Art-Between Heaven and Earth” at The Japanese Galleries of The British Museum from October 7th to November 7th 1993.
A pair of six-ford screen painting “Peace & Concord”(248X1464) painted 1975, acquired by The British Museum in London.
