nine separate scenes from the Tale of Genji arranged between golden clouds and gnarled pine trees; many scenes take place indoors between couples and women, with a few out of doors scenes

Nine Scenes from the Tale of Genji, early 17th century

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This screen shows nine scenes from consecutive chapters from the Tale of Genji in order from right to left. The far right panel depicts Genji sitting behind a writing desk and gazing out toward a setting sun. It is a specific moment from chapter 19 in which Genji, mourning the death of his lover, recites the following poem: “A rack of cloud across the light of evening, as if they, too, wore mourning weeds.”

Moving left, each panel of the screen depicts a single scene from chapters 20 through 25. The far left panel actually includes two scenes from chapter 26, in which Genji first tries to seduce a young woman and then is rejected by her. Because this single eight-panel screen includes scenes from eight chapters, it was probably part of a much larger set of screens depicting scenes from all fifty-four chapters of the Tale.

Details
Title
Nine Scenes from the Tale of Genji
Artist Life
died c. 1640
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.79.5
Provenance
Yoshioka Tajūrō; Setsu Gatōdō Co., Ltd. (until 1966); Mary Burke (1966-2015)
Catalogue Raisonne
Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 81
Curator Approved

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nine separate scenes from the Tale of Genji arranged between golden clouds and gnarled pine trees; many scenes take place indoors between couples and women, with a few out of doors scenes