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Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend

Ryōkan Taigu Japanese
early 19th century
Not on view
This is one of the Chinese verses Ryōkan Taigu composed upon learning of the death of the Confucian scholar Tomitori Yukinori. In this poignant poem, Ryōkan recalls their joyful days together at a private Confucian school and pours out his profound sorrow upon hearing the news. Ryōkan inscribed the poem in a small standard script, with off-balance characters arrayed in tilted columns.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 良寛大愚筆　五言詩　「聞之則物故」
  • Title: Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend
  • Artist: Ryōkan Taigu (Japanese, 1758–1831)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: early 19th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 8 1/2 × 11 1/8 in. (21.6 × 28.3 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 43 1/2 × 15 13/16 in. (110.5 × 40.2 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 43 1/2 × 17 7/8 in. (110.5 × 45.4 cm)
  • Classification: Calligraphy
  • Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2020
  • Object Number: 2020.396.27
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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