Ariwara no Narihira

Object Details

• Artist

  Sumiyoshi Gukei 住吉具慶 (1631-1705)

• Description

  This painting depicts the events recounted in the fourth chapter of The Tales of Ise, the famed tenth century collection of lyric episodes. An unnamed gentleman, whom tradition has held to be the poet Ariwara no Narihira, falls deeply in love with a woman who has temporary quarters with the former empress living in the eastern Fifth ward of Kyoto. After several encounters, she leaves without explanation or notificaion. The gentleman is despondant. Over the years he attempts to console himself by visiting the site of their assignation each year in the first month at the blooming of the plum trees. His poem, inscribed at the top of the painting has been translated: Is not the moon the same? / The spring / The spring of old?/ Only this body of mine/Is the same body... / Helen Craig McCullough. Tales of Ise. Stanford, 1968.

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Clark in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Freer Gallery of Art

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Sumiyoshi, Gukei

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Moon, Outer space, Tales of Ise, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Poetry, Spring, Courtier, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings