Writing Box with Yellow Rose Flowers and Rushing Stream

Japan

Not on view

The lid of this box is decorated with yellow kerria rose blossoms (yamabuki ) in arching sprays with bright green leaves. These flowers are associated with the Ide no Tamagawa (Jewel River) near Kyoto, a link that may have been formed after the respected poet and official Tachibana no Moroe (684–757)planted them on the banks of the river. The Ide no Tamagawa has long been featured in Japanese poetry:

The bottom of the Tama River at Ide
Reflecting the image above,
Is so clear that flowers of the
Yellow kerria add layer upon layer

Fujiwara no Shunzei (1114–1204)

Writing Box with Yellow Rose Flowers and Rushing Stream, Black lacquer with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, togidashimaki-e and cutout gold foil application, Japan

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