A literati painter of the mid-Edo period. He was born in the residence of the Kamogata domain, a branch of the Okayama domain; his childhood name was Isonoshin. He entered service at about sixteen and rose steadily, applying himself to both letters and arms. While posted in Edo he studied the qin under Taki Rankei and Confucianism under Gyokuden Mokuo, and mixed with literati such as the painter Tani Buncho, acquiring a wide grounding in music, poetry, calligraphy and painting. At thirty-five he obtained a celebrated qin bearing the inscription "Gyokudo seiin", said to have been made by Gu Yuanzhao of Ming China, and thereafter took the name Gyokudo. He served his domain well, but his absorption in poetry, calligraphy and painting told against his reputation; at forty-nine he resigned his office, and at fifty left the domain altogether, taking his two sons with him. He spent the rest of his life travelling the country, living freely and devoting himself to the qin, calligraphy and painting.