"New Herbs" from 'The Tale of Genji"

Series TitleThe Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) (Chapter 34, Scene 2)

Original Language Title源氏物語絵画帖、若菜

CultureJapanese

Date17th century

MediumAlbum leaf; color and gold on paper

DimensionsOverall: 10 1/2 × 9 inches (26.67 × 22.86 cm)
Sheet: 11 3/4 × 10 1/8 inches (29.85 × 25.72 cm)

Credit LineGift of Sondra Milne-Henderson

Object numberF94-39

On View

Not on view

Collections

East Asian Art

Terms

DescriptionFive figures in colorful costumes face a central figure in a black garment. The central figure is raising his hand and a pillow on a stand is placed directly in front of him. are seated on sectioned green mats. Clouds of embossed gold leaf surround the scene and a blossoming tree with red floral blossoms appears in the center. The figures are placed in an open setting without a roof and railing appears on the parameters outside the room.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

Scenes from the Tale of Genji were often painted on album leaves for personal viewing in the Edo period (1615–1868). The text from the tale likely accompanied the illustrations.

These three scenes depict scenes of the life of Prince Genji (the tale’s main character). In the New Herbs chapter, Prince Genji reluctantly agrees to marry the daughter of the retired Emperor Suzaku. In the Flares chapter, Prince Genji gives a young Lady Tamakazura an evening koto lesson. A servant depicted in the garden is lighting a lantern. In the Picture Contest chapter, Prince Genji and his love, Murasaki, search through a room’s furniture and bookshelves for paintings to admire.

Provenance

Sondra Milne-Henderson, London, United Kingdom, by December 21, 1994;

Her gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1994.

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