Scenes from the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)
Scenes from the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)

Currently not on view

Scenes from the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari),

ca. early 17th century

Anonymous
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
y1993-7
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More About This Object

Asian Art website: Scenes from the Tale of Genji

Information

Title
Scenes from the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari)
Dates

ca. early 17th century

Maker
Anonymous
Medium
Six-panel folding screen: ink, color, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: 103.7 x 325 cm. (40 13/16 x 127 15/16 in.) Screen: 118.8 x 339.2 cm. (46 13/16 x 133 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, Fowler McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund
Object Number
y1993-7
Place Made

Asia, Japan

Description

Around A.D. 1000, the court lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote what became the most celebrated narrative in Japan, The Tale of Genji, describing court life in the Heian period (794-1184). This screen depicts nine scenes from different chapters of the tale. The order of the scenes, viewed from top to bottom of each panel while moving across from right to left, diverges from the actual narrative sequence.Around A.D. 1000, the court lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote what became the most celebrated narrative in Japan, The Tale of Genji, describing court life in the Heian period (794-1184). This screen depicts nine scenes from different chapters of the tale. The order of the scenes, viewed from top to bottom of each panel while moving across from right to left, diverges from the actual narrative sequence.

Panel 1 top Chap. 21. Otome 乙女, “The Maiden” Autumn

bottom Chap. 25. Hotaru 螢, “Fireflies” Summer

Panel 2 Chap. 23. Hatsune 初音, “The First Warbler” Spring

Panel 3 top Chap. 26. Tokonatsu 常夏, “Wild Carnations” Summer

bottom Chap. 20. Asagao 朝顔, “The Morning Glory” Winter

Panel 4 Chap. 28. Nowaki 野分, “The Typhoon” Autumn

Panel 5 Chap. 51. Ukifune 浮舟, “A Boat Upon the Waters” Winter

Panel 6 top Chap. 34. Wakana 若菜, “New Herbs” Spring

bottom Chap. 37. Yokobue 横笛, “The Flute” Autumn

Culture
Japanese
Period
Edo (Japanese period), Heian
Type
paintings, screens (furniture)
Materials
ink, paper (fiber product), gold
Subject
clouds, rooms, figures (representations), women, courts (social groups), storytellers

–1993 London Gallery, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), sold to the Princeton University Art Museum, 1993.

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