Ink Drawing of Tenjin (the Deified Sugawara no Michizane) in China

Ugan (1738-1808) was a Zen monk of the Sōtō sect in the late Edo period. His name as a Zen monk was Kaiō Tōshū, but he is generally known as Ugan or Ugankoji. He was a resident priest of Enzuan Temple, Mannōji Temple, and other temples in Echigo. He studied painting under Kanō Baishō (Hōgen Gyokugen), a painter of the Kanō school. In calligraphy, he specialized in a cursive style called “Kyōsōtai”, which is a cursive style that is further broken down and rendered in a continuous style.
He is also known for his close friendship with Ryōkan, who was also from Echigo, and has many anecdotes about Ryōkan. There is a poem by Ryogan about him and a painting by Ryogan that Ryogan praised.

The painting is called “Tenjin traveling to China,” which is based on the legend of Sugawarano Michizane, who became a heavenly deity and was encouraged by Enni Benen to travel to China to become a disciple of Wuzhun Shifan, who gave him a robe. The plum blossoms in his hand represent his identity as Michizane (Tenjin).