each panel has small separate poem at top; scenes of figures enjoying activities in different seasons; from R, scene 1: 4 seated figures on green mat, with 2 male figures playing flute and koto; scene 2: male figure riding white horse near river with two attendants; scene 3: male figure on verandah holding stick with two figures seated in grass at LLC; scene 4: two figures in checkered pants dancing near verandah with musicians near bottom, and autumn leaves on ground; scene 5: two female figures dancing with fans on porch while male and female figures at LL watch; scene 6: winter scene with procession on horses riding through snowy mountain peaks

Scenes from The Tale of Genji representing months of the year, before 1710

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

The time of year is usually specified in The Tale of Genji, and the author takes pains to describe seasonal indicators such as weather and seasonal plants. This screen, once part of a pair, features illustrations and textual passages representing the six months of summer and autumn in order from right to left. The fourth panel from the right, for example, is titled “10th month” and shows an appropriately autumnal scene: 19-year-old Genji and his friend (and sometime rival) Tō no Chūjō dance in a palace garden beneath a maple tree whose crimson leaves fall and scatter. Or, in the Tale’s lyrical description: “Under tall autumn trees [the music] mingled with the wind’s roaring and sighing as it swept gale-like down the mountain, while through the flutter of bright falling leaves [the men’s dancing] shone forth with awesome beauty.”

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Details
Title
Scenes from The Tale of Genji representing months of the year
Artist Life
1646 - 1710
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.31.56
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

each panel has small separate poem at top; scenes of figures enjoying activities in different seasons; from R, scene 1: 4 seated figures on green mat, with 2 male figures playing flute and koto; scene 2: male figure riding white horse near river with two attendants; scene 3: male figure on verandah holding stick with two figures seated in grass at LLC; scene 4: two figures in checkered pants dancing near verandah with musicians near bottom, and autumn leaves on ground; scene 5: two female figures dancing with fans on porch while male and female figures at LL watch; scene 6: winter scene with procession on horses riding through snowy mountain peaks