Forty-nine scenes from the Tales of Ise

Calligrapher Attributed to Satomura Genchin Japanese

mid-17th century

Not on view

The Tales of Ise has earned recognition as one of the great works of Japanese classical prose literature. Compiled in the tenth century, it comprises 124 short chapters. Each chapter relates an episode, sometimes amorous, in the life of an anonymous protagonist referred to simply as “that man.” He has long been thought to be based on the ninth-century courtier-poet Ariwara no Narihira.

While the text circulated for centuries through copied manuscripts, the gist of the tale was also conveyed through small paintings associated with each chapter, often accompanied by the relevant poem. The paintings and poems, rendered on thick paper rectangles called shikishi, sometimes were preserved in albums or mounted onto screens, as here.

Artwork Details

Object Information

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References

『伊勢物語』
Title: Forty-nine scenes from the Tales of Ise
Calligrapher: Attributed to Satomura Genchin (Japanese, 1591–1665)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: mid-17th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Pair of six-panel folding screens, with ninety-eight paintings and poem cards (shikishi) applied to gold leaf on paper; paintings: ink and red ink on paper, text: ink on paper
Dimensions: Image (each): 42 1/4 in. × 8 ft. 9 7/8 in. (107.3 × 268.9 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015
Object Number: 2015.300.81.1, .2
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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