Scene from the "Spring Shoots II" Chapter of The Tale of Genji, late 16th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Ink, color, and gold on paperexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.37
Not on Viewexpand_more
The scene on this folding fan is from chapter 14 of The Tale of Genji. Genji makes a pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi Shrine to thank the gods after the end of a period of exile. Genji and his entourage have parked their elegant carriages near Sumiyoshi’s pine-lined beach. Illustrations of this scene, including several in this exhibition, often show a single boat floating off the coast, signaling the simultaneous arrival of Genji’s former lover, the Akashi Lady. The magnificence of Genji’s entourage makes the Akashi Lady painfully aware of her own lower social status, so she retreats without ever announcing her presence. When Genji learns she is nearby, they exchange a series of poems.
The vertical lines visible on this painting are from creases made by bamboo slats when the painting was earlier mounted as a folding fan. A later owner removed the painting from the bamboo structure and converted it to its present scroll format, thus assuring its preservation.
Details
- Title
- Scene from the "Spring Shoots II" Chapter of The Tale of Genji
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.37
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 65
- 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.
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