Kemari Scene from chapter 34 of The Tale of Genji

Object Details

• Artist

  Reizei Tamechika (1823-1864)

• Description

  This depiction of one the most famous scenes from the Tale of Genji (Chapter 34). As a group of young courtiers engages in a game of kick ball (kemari), Nyosan, concubine to Prince Genji spies on the players from inside her screened room. Her escaping cat bursts through the hanging drapery, offering courtier Kashiwagi a forbidden glimpse of Nyosan. The moment leads to a sad affair between Kashiwagi and Nyosan in which Genji is the cuckold and leads to the birth of Kaoru, a son whom Genji must accept even though he knows the truth of the liaison.

• Signatures

  Signed by Tamechika with his court title corresponding to a period between 1850 and 1855.

• Provenance

  To 2002

  Klaus Naumann, Tokyo, to 2002

  From 2002

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Klaus Naumann in 2002

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Painting the Classics: Presence and Absence (November 3, 2018 to October 14, 2019)

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

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

  Asian Games: The Art of Contest (February 26 to 15 May 2005)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Klaus Naumann

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian 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, 1850s, 1680s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Naumann, Klaus

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Cats, Art, Animals, Concubine, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, The Tale of Genji, Game playing, Courtier, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings