Ch: mogu. Sometimes pronounced bokkotsu. Lit. "boneless." A painting technique in which objects are rendered without using an outline. It is considered one of two primary painting techniques, the other being *kōroku 鉤勒. This technique originated in China and, according to some specialists, the proper usage should be limited to painting in color. However, the term is also commonly used for ink renderings without outlines. The historical usage of the technique differs according to whether ink wash is included or not. When limited to paintings in color, the technique is seen mostly in bird and flower painting *kachōga 花鳥画. Although it was first seen in the mid-Tang dynasty painting, the most famous artists associated with mokkotsu painting are Xu Chongsi (Jp: Jo Sūshi 徐崇嗣; fl. first half of the 14th century), and Yun Shouping (Jp: Un Juhei 惲寿平; 1633-90). It is not clear when this technique was brought to Japan, but it is seen in bird-and-flower and fish paintings primarily from the Edo period. When associated with the ink painting tradition, mokkotsu has been used to create mountains since early times, and is considered to have entered Japan in the Muromachi period. It is seen particularly in the work of Sōami 相阿弥 (? -1525).