KORIN, OGATA (c. 1657-1716), Japanese painter and lac querer, was born at Koto, the son of a wealthy merchant who had a taste for the arts and is said to have given his son some elementary instruction therein. Karin also studied under Soken Yamamoto, Kano, Tsunenobu and Gukei Sumiyoshi; and he was greatly influenced by his predecessors Koyetsu and SOtatsu. On arriving at maturity, however, he broke away from all tradition, and developed a very original and quite distinctive style of his own, both in painting and in the decoration of lacquer. The characteristic of this is a bold impressionism, which is expressed in few and simple highly idealized forms, with an absolute dis regard either of realism or of the usual conventions. In lacquer Karin's use of white metals and of mother-of-pearl is notable; but herein he followed Koyetsu. Karin died on June 2, 1716, at the age of fifty-nine. His chief pupils were Kagei Tatebashi and
Shiki5 Watanable; but the present knowledge and appreciation of his work are largely due to the efforts of Hoitsu Sakai, who brought about a revival of KOrin's style.
See A. Morrison, The Painters of Japan (1902) ; S. Tajima, Master pieces selected from the Karin School (1903) ; S. HOitsu, The zoo Designs by Karin (1815) and More Designs by Karin (1826). (E. F. S.) KORKUS, an aboriginal tribe of India, dwelling on the Sat pura hills in the Central Provinces. They are the westernmost representatives of the Munda family of speech. Totemistic exogamy and adult marriage are found. Each clan has a com munal burial place. Formerly masters, with shifting cultivations, they are largely farm servants and ploughmen, honest, improvident.
See Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces (1916).