A Long Tale for an Autumn Night (Aki no yo nagamonogatari)
Not on view
This set of illustrated handscrolls (emaki), with the narrative progressing from right to left, tells of an amorous affair between a Buddhist monk and a younger male acolyte (chigo), a genre of story popular in medieval Japan. Here, after the tragic suicide of the chigo, the monk renounces carnal pleasure and attains salvation. In 2011 the Museum acquired the missing final section of this scroll, which had earlier been remounted as a hanging scroll.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.