京都・錦市場の青物問屋（八百屋の問屋）の長男に生まれ、23歳で店をつぎました。40歳ごろ店を弟にゆずって絵に専念します。身近な動植物、とくにニワトリをじっくり観察し、羽の一枚一枚までおどろくほど細かく、あざやかな色で描きました。30幅の大作《動植綵絵》は、相国寺に寄進され、今は皇室の所蔵で国宝です。
Jakuchū was the eldest son of a wholesale greengrocer in Kyoto's Nishiki Market. He took over the shop at 23. Around 40, he handed it to his brother to focus on painting. He studied plants and animals around him, especially roosters, and painted every feather in amazing detail and bright color. His 30-scroll masterpiece, Colorful Realm of Living Beings, was given to Shōkoku-ji temple. It now belongs to the Imperial collection and is a National Treasure.
