Narihira's Journey to the East

late 18th century

Not on view

The ninth chapter in The Tales of Ise is the most famous passage of the text and one of the most frequently illustrated in Japanese literature. Narihira has lost all will to continue his worldly life in the capital and, in a disconsolate mood, leaves home with one or two close friends in search of a peaceful existence in the eastern provinces. Illustrators most often represented the moment during this Azuma kudari, or journey to the east, when the dispirited travelers pass the foot of Mount Fuji. Supposedly, that is the subject of the triptych here, but the artist had no qualms whatsoever about abandoning the loneliness and disillusionment of the journey described in The Tales of Ise. In this mitate, or contemporary parody of classical subjects, the poetic description of the small, gloomy group of travelers is used as an excuse to mount a glamorous pageant of beautiful Edo-period women wearing the finest contemporary fashions. So unconcerned was the artist with the faithful rendition of the text that even the romantic hero, Narihira himself, was represented as a pretty girl showing off her fine clothes.

Artwork Details

Title: Narihira's Journey to the East
Artist: Rekisentei Eiri (Japanese, active ca. 1789–1801)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: late 18th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: Image (each): 14 9/16 x 9 3/4 in. (37 x 24.8 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Object Number: JP1789
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Rekisentei Eiri

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Courtier and Two Ladies of the Court, with a Poem by Mibu no Tadamine, Rekisentei Eiri Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Courtier and Two Ladies of the Court, with a Poem by Mibu no Tadamine
Rekisentei Eiri
ca. 1791

Chofu Tamagawa, (Province of) Musashi, Rekisentei Eiri Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Chofu Tamagawa, (Province of) Musashi
Rekisentei Eiri
ca. 1791

Prince Genji Returning to His Palace where His Wife Awaits Him, Rekisentei Eiri Japanese, Pentaptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Prince Genji Returning to His Palace where His Wife Awaits Him
Rekisentei Eiri
ca. 1797

Mountain Roses of Ide (Ide no Yamabuki), from the series A Parodic Six Jewel Rivers (Yatsushi Mu-Tamagawa), Rekisentei Eiri Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Mountain Roses of Ide (Ide no Yamabuki), from the series A Parodic Six Jewel Rivers (Yatsushi Mu-Tamagawa)
Rekisentei Eiri
ca. 1795

Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views (Zashiki hakkei), Suzuki Harunobu Japanese, Woodblock print (first edition); ink and colors on paper, medium-sized print (chuban), Japan — Night Rain at the Double-Shelf Stand, from the series Eight Parlor Views (Zashiki hakkei)
Suzuki Harunobu
ca. 1766

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.