Funatsu Ranzan
Ranzan was the official drawing artist of Matsudaira Yamatonokami in Kawagoe feudal domain and the head of Kishimura village.
He was born in Musashinokuni Irumagoori Kishimura (present Kishimachi, Kawagoe) as Funatsu Seibei Nagasada's eldest son in the Bunka 5 (1808). His real name is Funatsu Seibei Nagatada and his artist name is Keiunsai Ranzan Soshi.
They say that Ranzan studied the drawing technique under Kanou Sosen Akinobu, but Ranzan went to Edo to study directly under Sogyokusai Shouzan Tokinobu (Kibe Tokinobu) who was Sosen's best pupil.

Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten was burned down on April 15th in the Kouka 4 (1847) and the fuedal lord; Matsudaira Yamatonokami Naritsune died in the Kaei 3 (1850).
Then after 100 days passed from his death, the new fuedal lord; Tsunenori ordered Ranzan to draw on cedar doors on May 14th in the Kaei 3 (1850). He started from June 7th, almost finished in the Ansei 2 (1855), restarted from March 6th of the next year and completed on April 9th, 1856. Therefore, Ranzan spent 7 years for all drawings.

Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten
Photograph: Munakata Satoshi

Ranzan's drawings on 12 cedar doors still remain in Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten and some other doors are at Fukudaya in Kamifukuoka (present Kamifukuoka Historical Museum).
Other artwork is on the cedar doors of the Funatsu family temple; Kanjouin (located in Furuya Hongou) and Unryu no Zu (dragon) is on the ceiling of Youjuin (located in Motomachi 2-chome).

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