Sesshu Toyo (1420 - 26 August 1506) was the most prominent Japanese master of ink and wash painting from the middle Muromachi period. He was born into the samurai Oda family; then brought up and educated to become a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest. However; early in life he displayed a talent for visual arts; and eventually became one of the greatest Japanese artists of his time; widely revered throughout Japan and China. Sesshu studied under Tensho Shubun and was influenced by Chinese Song Dynasty landscape painting. In 1468-9 he undertook a voyage to Ming China; where too he was quickly recognized as an outstanding painter. Upon returning to Japan; Sesshu built himself a studio and established a large following; painters that are now referred to as the Unkoku-rin school鈥攐r 'School of Sesshu'.