Keywords
Art History
Painting
Ch: Shennong. The second of the legendary Three Emperors (Ch: sanhuang, Jp: sankō 三皇) credited with founding Chinese civilization, and called the Divine Husbandman. A follower of Fuxi (Jp: *Fukugi 伏羲), Shinnō is said to have taught the people agriculture as well as medicine, music, and the use of fire. Supposedly raised by animals, he is depicted with a large head, protruding cranial "horn," long hair and beard, dressed in leaves, and eating blades of grass, a reference to his discovery of medicinal plants. Shinnō was painted by Edo period *Kano-ha 狩野派 painters, with notable examples by Kano Tan'yū 狩野探幽 (1607-74; Private Collection) and Einō 永納 (1631-97; Tokyo Natinal Museum).