Tengan Chiben (Gako): Echoes of Zen Hermitage Tengan Chiben, also known as Gako, stands as a poignant figure in the annals of late Edo period Japanese art—a testament to monastic devotion interwoven with profound artistic sensibility. Born in Shinano Province around 1737, he embarked on a spiritual journey that ultimately shaped his distinctive style and cemented his place amongst Japan’s most respected Zen ink painters. His life was…