Imperial Visit to Jurakudai Palace / Left screen

Jurakudai was an immense castle-like mansion that Toyotomi Hideyoshi built, which was completed in 1587 after one year’s construction; Emperor Goyozei made a visit there the following year. Later, this building was bestowed to his nephew Hidetsugu but was dismantled after he committed seppuku, or ritual suicide; Hiunkaku in the Nishihonganji Temple and Karamon gate in the Daitokuji Temple are believed to be remains of Jurakudai.
Only a few paintings with Jurakudai have been identified so far, including the folding screen in the collection of Mitsui Memorial Museum; which makes this work a good material for the study of Jurakudai, about which many are still unknown. The palanquin at the center bottom is considered to represent the imperial visit mentioned above, which also makes this painting a historically interesting material.