Portrait of Nissan Kaitō

Nissan Kaitō (1720-1807) was a Sōtō Zen monk of the late Edo period. He inherited the Dharma of Kegon Sōkai, and his senior disciple was Mugaku Zesshū. He resided at Jinnōji Temple in Kyoto, Myōtokuji Temple in Wakasa, Kōzenji Temple in Ecchū, and Ryūtokuji Temple in Tottori.

This document is Nissan’s chinzō (portrait) with an inscription by himself, painted in Tenmei 1 (1781) at the age of 62. The front-facing chinzō was influenced by the Ōbaku style. The date of Nissan’s birth was previously unknown, but as this document states that he was 62 years old in Tenmei 1 (1781), it has been determined that he was born in Kyōhō 5 (1720).