Poem by Fujiwara no Okikaze with Underpainting of Clematis

Calligraphy by Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗 Japanese
Underpainting attributed to Tawaraya Sōtatsu 俵屋宗達 Japanese
early 17th century
Not on view
Tare o ka mo
shiru hito ni sen
Takasago no
matsu mo mukashi no
tomo naranaku ni

Who is there left
that really knows me?
Though the pines of Takasago
have always been there,
I cannot call them “friends.”

—Trans. John T. Carpenter

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 鉄線下絵和歌色紙
  • Title: Poem by Fujiwara no Okikaze with Underpainting of Clematis
  • Artist: Calligraphy by Shōkadō Shōjō 松花堂昭乗 (Japanese, 1584?–1639)
  • Artist: Underpainting attributed to Tawaraya Sōtatsu 俵屋宗達 (Japanese, ca. 1570–ca. 1640)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: early 17th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, gold, and silver on colored paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 7 15/16 x 6 15/16 in. (20.2 x 17.6 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 53 x 17 15/16 in. (134.6 x 45.6 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 53 x 20 5/8 in. (134.6 x 52.4 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, by exchange, 1979
  • Object Number: 1979.407.2
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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