Writing Box with Illustrated Books
Not on view
The writing box (suzuri-bako) contains an inkstone and a water dropper, as well as an inner tray for writing implements. The lid is embellished with several illustrated characters that refer to the murmur of the river (see ill.). The frog is also associated with spring. In the kana preface of the Kokin wakashū by Ki no Tsurayuki, there is an often cited sentence: “The song of the warbler among the blossoms, the voice of the frog dwelling in the water—these teach us that every living creature sings.”
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