Minamoto Nakakuni playing a flute
Minamoto Nakakuni playing a flute
Minamoto Nakakuni playing a flute
Minamoto Nakakuni playing a flute

Currently not on view

Minamoto Nakakuni playing a flute,

19th century

Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
2015-5671

Information

Title
Minamoto Nakakuni playing a flute
Dates

19th century

Medium
Ink and color on paper
Credit Line
Museum Collection
Object Number
2015-5671
Place Made

Japan

Inscription
to the left of tree and figure: indicating color under horse: signature bottom right: practicing a character top right (recto): [top cluster, R to L roughly]: column 1:嘉永六癸丑年三月 column 2: 仲圀左 右小督局 column 3: 二幅對 [middle cluster, R to L roughly] column 1: 中山道浦味宿 column 2: 伊勢屋元七所蔵 column 3: 小谷野姓　_ _ 家 [bottom] 章信筆 top center (recto), in pencil, in English: I think this represents the story of a lady (Kogo no Tsuboné) left the Mikado’s court & disappeared. Nakakuni was sent to search for her & played on the flute a familiar Chinese tune: Wives longing for their husband. He heard a response played on the “koto” & recognized the playing of Kogo no Tsuboné & thus discovered her. Time: between 700 & 750 A.D.
Culture
Japanese
Period
Edo (Japanese period)
Type
workshop art, drawings
Subject
sketches

–ca. 1890 Purchased by Allan Marquand(?) 1890-ca. 1892 Allan Marquand, by gift or transfer to the Princeton University Art Museum. Note: 1890 (academic year) purchase likely corresponds to an entry in Allan Marquand’s Day Book, p. 43, that records a purchase of Japanese Drawings for $500.

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