Born at Nanao in Noto (Ishikawa), he was adopted into the Hasegawa family of dyers. In youth, under the name Shinshun, he painted Buddhist images.
Around this time he moved to Kyoto with his family—a fresh start, from provincial painter toward the top of his art.
Helped by his ties with Sen no Rikyū, he painted the ceiling and pillars of the main gate of Daitoku-ji, raising his reputation.
With his workshop he painted the murals of Shōun-ji, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi for his son Tsurumatsu who had died young. Works such as the Maple panels survive at Chishaku-in.
His gifted son Kyūzō, painter of the Cherry Blossoms panels, died young, plunging Tōhaku into grief.
Around this time he is thought to have completed the Pine Trees screens, pines emerging from mist in ink alone (date debated)—among the finest Japanese ink paintings and a National Treasure.
He received the high honorary rank of hōgen for painters and was recognized as founder of the Hasegawa school, rival of the Kanō.
Invited by Tokugawa Ieyasu, he set out for Edo but fell ill on the way, dying soon after arriving.
Sen no RikyūToyotomi HideyoshiTokugawa Ieyasu
Imagawa UjizaneNabeshima NaoshigeHonda MasanobuChōsokabe MotochikaToyotomi HidenagaKuki YoshitakaTokugawa IeyasuKanō Eitoku
People of the Sengoku/Azuchi-Momoyama period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.