Scroll 1 (top): Noda no TamagawaScroll 3 (middle): Noji no TamagawaScroll 5 (bottom): Kinuta no Tamagawa Scroll 2 (top): Tetsukuri no TamagawaScroll 4 (middle): Ide no TamagawaScroll 6 (bottom): Kŏya no TamagawaThe titles of the six small-format handscrolls in this set refer to the six rivers in various parts of Japan that are named Tamagawa, or Jewel River. Each scroll shows a horizontal expanse of landscape in which the main elements of the composition are gradually introduced and then slowly fade out in almost cinematic fashion. The theme of six beautiful rivers enjoyed great popularity in the nineteenth century, especially among ukiyo-e printmakers. The name Tamagawa was eventually included in a large compendium of place names used as utamakura (pillow words), phrases that served to inspire poets; subsequently, many verses were composed about rivers of this name. Ŏho, one of the last Rinpa artists of the Edo period, died when he was quite young, leaving only a small body of work. Many of his paintings are based on or inspired by the work of Sakai Hŏitsu, his adoptive father and teacher. Ŏho was perhaps inspired to use the Tamagawa theme because of its popularity with the circle of poetry enthusiasts who gathered around his teacher and former colleague.
