兼好法師画像 (Kenkō Hōshi zō)|兼好法師画賛 (Kenkō hōshi gasan)|Monk Kenkō Reading by Lamplight

Unidentified|Imperial Prince-Monk Ryōshō 良尚入道親王

late 17th century · Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

The fluid sketch painting on this scroll represents Monk Kenkō (ca. 1283–ca. 1352), a recluse-literatus best known for his literary miscellany Essays in Idleness (Tsurezuregusa, ca. 1330). The inscription in staggered columns—a device known as scattered writing (chirashi-gaki)—transcribes the memorable opening lines of Chapter 13: ひとり、ともしびの本に文をひろげて、みぬよの 人をともとするこそ、こよなう藉ぐさむわざなれ。 The pleasantest of all diversions is to sit alone under the lamp, a book spread out before one, and to make friends with people of a distant past whom you have never known. –Trans. Donald Keene

Artist

Unidentified|Imperial Prince-Monk Ryōshō 良尚入道親王

Date

late 17th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2020