Born the second son of the Karigane-ya, a great Kyoto drapery house. His younger brother was the future potter Ogata Kenzan.
His father died leaving him a large fortune, which he reportedly squandered on lavish pleasures.
Around this time he began serious study of painting, learning Kanō techniques and drawn especially to the works of Tawaraya Sōtatsu.
His brother Kenzan opened a kiln at Narutaki in Kyoto, and they made ceramics fired by Kenzan and decorated by Kōrin.
He received the painter's rank of hokkyō. Around this time he is thought to have painted the Irises screens, rhythmic irises on gold, now a National Treasure.
Seeking commissions he went down to Edo, painting for daimyō houses and others.
He returned to Kyoto, built a new house and kept working.
Around this time he is thought to have painted the Red and White Plum Blossoms screens, plums flanking a stream (date debated)—a late masterpiece and National Treasure.
He died in Kyoto. The decorative style handed down from Sōtatsu to Kōrin is named after him: the Rinpa school.
Matsuo BashōTokugawa TsunayoshiChikamatsu MonzaemonArai HakusekiYanagisawa YoshiyasuOgiwara ShigehideŌishi Kuranosuke (Yoshio)Ichikawa Danjūrō I
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.