The Tales of Ise
ArtistLineage of
Tosa School
(Japanese)
Datelate 17th-early 18th century
MediumPoem sheet (shikishi), colors and gold on paper
DimensionsOverall: 9 1/4 × 6 15/16 inches (23.5 × 17.62 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number46-60/6
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionA lady sent a poem to a man: "To love unloved is more futile than to write numbers on a flowing stream."Gallery LabelThe Tales of Ise provides an intriguing glimpse into the Japanese aristocratic way of life during the Heian period (794–1185 C.E.). This compilation of poems and narratives describes the adventures of the courtier Ariwara no Narihira (825–880 C.E.) and his feelings of joy, passion, longing, sadness, and frustration. In 1608, the merchant Suminokura Soan published Sagabon (Saga books), a printed book of the tales. Its illustrations became the models for many paintings, including this one.
With Laurence Sickman (1907-1988), Kansas City, MO, by 1946;
Purchased from Laurence Sickman by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1946.
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