本阿弥光悦書・俵屋宗達下絵　小倉百人一首和歌巻断簡|Two Poems from One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

Hon'ami Kōetsu|Tawaraya Sōtatsu

ca. 1615–20 · Section of handscroll mounted as a hanging scrolll; ink, silver, and gold on paper · Asian Art

This fragment once belonged to a handscroll featuring the poetry of the entire anthology One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets. The underpainting in gold and silver by Tawaraya Sōtatsu describes the life cycle of the lotus—a plant associated with Buddhism. The two poems here are by Fujiwara no Akisuke (1090–1155) and Lady Horikawa (active late 12th century). Sakyō Dayū Akisuke 左京大夫顕輔 Akikaze ni tanabiku kumo no taema yori more-izuru tsuki no kage no sayakesa The light of the moon, clear and radiant, pours through rifts in the clouds, buffeted by autumn breezes. Taikenmon’in Horikawa 待賢門院堀河 Nagakaran kokoro mo shirazu kurokami no midarete kesa wa mono o koso omoe I have no idea how long his love for me will last— as I recall this morning our affair, with my hair tangled as my emotions! —Trans. John T. Carpenter

Artist

Hon'ami Kōetsu|Tawaraya Sōtatsu

Date

ca. 1615–20

Medium

Section of handscroll mounted as a hanging scrolll; ink, silver, and gold on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015