Courtier and Two Ladies of the Court, with a Poem by Mibu no Tadamine

ca. 1791
Not on view
The image presents a fanciful depiction of a court poet accompanied by two young women in contemporary Edo garb. The poem is by Mibu no Tadamine, an early Heian courtier-poet (active 898–920) who was counted among the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals (Sanjūrokkasen). The poem refers to the New Year’s custom of plucking pine saplings while composing poems praying for long life; it reads:

Ne no hi suru
nobe ni komatsu no
nakariseba
chiyo no tameshi ni
nani o hikamashi

If on the day of the rat
no pine saplings
are to be found
what should we pluck
to pray for longevity?
—[Mibu no] Tadamine
(Trans. John T. Carpenter)

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 礫川亭永理 (鳥橋斎栄里)画 壬生忠岑の見立絵
  • Title: Courtier and Two Ladies of the Court, with a Poem by Mibu no Tadamine
  • Artist: Rekisentei Eiri (Japanese, active ca. 1789–1801)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: ca. 1791
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 9 3/16 in. (23.3 cm); W. 7 1/16 in. (17.9 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
  • Object Number: JP954
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.