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.

• Inscriptions

  Inscription and seal lower right.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Painting the Classics: Japanese Scrolls and Beyond (November 17, 2018 to October 20, 2019)

  Poetic License: Making Old Worlds New (February 2 to August 4, 2013)

  Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License (February 2 to August 4, 2013)

  Tales and Legends in Japanese Art (June 21, 2003 to January 4, 2004)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

  Untitled, Tokyo National Museum, Autumn 1993 (Autumn 1993)

  Untitled Exhibition, Suntory Museum, 1990s (1990s)

• 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.

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

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings