A Pair of Quails and Poppies
In poetry, barley quails (mugi-uzura) are traditionally associated with late spring, and poppies (keshi) in bloom with mid-summer, so a dream in autumn about this avian species is a hope for a warmer, less grim season of life.
秋の夢 見てや啼出す 麦鶉
Aki no yume
mite ya nakidasu
mugiuzura
In an autumn dream,
the barley quails
begin to chirp.
—Trans. John T. Carpenter
秋の夢 見てや啼出す 麦鶉
Aki no yume
mite ya nakidasu
mugiuzura
In an autumn dream,
the barley quails
begin to chirp.
—Trans. John T. Carpenter
Artwork Details
- 歌川広重画 罌栗に鶉
- Title: A Pair of Quails and Poppies
- Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1797–1858 Tokyo (Edo))
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: ca. 1835
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Woodblock print
- Dimensions: 14 x 5 in. (35.6 x 12.7 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1918
- Object Number: JP239
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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