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Tale of Genji Chapter Books: Chapter 10, “A Branch of Sacred Evergreen” (Sakaki)

Attributed to Tosa Mitsuyoshi Japanese
 Calligrapher: Saionji Shōkō Japanese

Not on view

This book once formed part of a fifty-four-chapter set, with each chapter bound between covers richly painted in mineral pigments and gold. The front cover of Chapter 10 shows Genji offering a branch of “sacred evergreen” (sakaki) to his former lover Lady Rokujō. Genji wishes to make amends for his neglect of her and to pacify her vengeful wandering spirit, which he suspects caused the death of his wife, Aoi.

Tale of Genji Chapter Books: Chapter 10, “A Branch of Sacred Evergreen” (Sakaki), Attributed to Tosa Mitsuyoshi (Japanese, 1539–1613), Thread-bound manuscript book with painted covers; ink, color, and gold on paper, Japan

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