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

Overview

Provenance

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

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