Tale of Genji Chapter Books: Chapter 10, “A Branch of Sacred Evergreen” (Sakaki)
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.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.
Artwork Details
- 伝土佐光吉筆 源氏物語 榊帖
- Title: Tale of Genji Chapter Books: Chapter 10, “A Branch of Sacred Evergreen” (Sakaki)
- Artist: Attributed to Tosa Mitsuyoshi (Japanese, 1539–1613)
- Artist: Calligrapher: Saionji Shōkō (Japanese)
- Period: Momoyama period (1573–1615)
- Date: early 17th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Thread-bound manuscript book with painted covers; ink, color, and gold on paper
- Dimensions: 10 1/16 × 6 13/16 × 3/8 in. (25.6 × 17.3 × 1 cm)
- Classification: Illustrated Books
- Credit Line: Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Photography Collection, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art