sesshū stayed in china until 1469. because of the ōnin war, he could not stay in yamaguchi, and settled instead in ōita prefecture in kyūshū, where he built a studio, "tenkai zuga-rō". he occupied himself with painting and teaching, and frequently made trips to various areas of japan. on one of such trips, in 1478, sesshu went to masuda, shimane, on invitation from kanetaka masuda, the lord of iwami province. the painter entered the sūkan-ji (崇観寺), made two zen gardens there, and painted the portrait of masuda kanetaka, and "the birds and flowers of four seasons".