Portrait of Emperor Go-Daigo by Monkan is a hanging scroll executed in color on silk, dated to 23 October 1339. The work depicts Emperor Go-Daigo, a significant figure in Japanese history, seated in formal attire beneath three large vertical banners inscribed with calligraphy. The composition is carefully balanced, with the emperor centrally positioned and flanked by decorative motifs and guardian lion-dogs at the base. The emperor is shown seated on a raised platform, dressed in layered, patterned robes with green and gold detailing, and holding ritual objects in his hands.

His face is rendered with delicate brushwork, emphasizing a calm and dignified expression. The banners above his head bear inscriptions, and the background is a muted brown, focusing attention on the richly colored figure and the symbolic animals below. The use of color and line demonstrates the refined painting techniques of early 14th-century Japanese court portraiture. Portraits of emperors in this period were often created to assert legitimacy and commemorate their reigns, especially during times of political upheaval such as the Nanboku-chō period.

This work is documented as being created in 1339, shortly after Emperor Go-Daigo’s death, and reflects the conventions of Japanese imperial portraiture, where the ruler is depicted with attributes of authority and divinity. The scroll is part of a tradition of commemorative images produced for religious or political purposes in medieval Japan.