Genji triptychs
The Tale of Genj (Genji monogatari) is the greatest novel in classical Japanese literature, and arguably, the world’s first novel. It was written in the first decade of the eleventh century by Lady Murasaki, and relates the womanizing exploits of Prince Genji. Most of the prints depicting Prince Genji portray a sumptuously clothed prince surrounded by beautiful women, who are also extravagantly dressed. The individual sheets of these triptychs are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ōban. I am grateful to Ward Pieters for assisting with this section.
|
Series:
Fashionable Quartet of Flower, Bird, Wind and Moon (Jisei kwachōfūgetsu) Robinson:
147 Title:
Wind (風) Description:
Prince Genji with 2 beauties in a windy garden Date: c.
1848 Publisher:
Arita-ya Seiemon |
|
Series:
Fashionable Quartet of Flower, Bird, Wind and Moon (Jisei kwachōfūgetsu) Robinson:
147 Title:
Moon (月) Description:
Prince Genji with beauties on a moonlit deck Date: c.
1848 Publisher:
Arita-ya Seiemon |
|
Series:
Select Five Elements (Mitate go gyō) Robinson:
139 Title: Wood (ki) Description:
Prince Genji entertains two beauties disguised as Nuns under a tree in the
rain Date: 4th
month of 1852 Publisher:
Sano-ya Kihei NOTE:
Chapter 49 is titled Yadorigi,
which literally means “mistletoe”, but may also mean “sheltering”. Mistletoe is a woody plant, but the image
is one of sheltering from the rain under a tree. |
|
Series:
Select Five Elements (Mitate go gyō) Robinson:
139 Title: Fire (hi),
The Fishing Fire (Kagaribi) Description:
Prince Genji and three beauties under a blossoming cherry trees on a river
bank at night looking at fish in a tub, with cormorant fishermen in their
boats with torches (to attract the fish) in the background. This refers to
Chapter 27 (Kagaribi) of Genji monogatari. Date: 4th
month of 1852 Publisher:
Sano-ya Kihei |
|
Series:
Select Five Elements (Mitate go gyō) Robinson:
139 Title: Earth (tsuchi) Description:
Genji at window Date: 4th
month of 1852 Publisher:
Sano-ya Kihei |
|
Series:
Select Five Elements (Mitate go gyō) Robinson:
139 Title: Metal (kane) Description:
Prince Genji, sitting on a veranda by a peony garden with female attendants Date: 4th
month of 1852 Publisher:
Sano-ya Kihei |
|
Series:
Select Five Elements (Mitate go gyō) Robinson:
139 Title: Water (mizu) Description:
Genji and two beauties watching ducks from a boat drifting on a snowy river Date: 4th
month of 1852 Publisher:
Sano-ya Kihei NOTE: This
triptych is an allusion to chapter 51 (Ukifune) in which the lovers prince
Niou and Ukifune elope by boat in the middle of winter. |
|
Title:
Boating in the Chinese Style (Jukan
Funa Asobi) Description:
Prince Genji watching from a balcony as two ladies are being rowed in a
fantastic, ornate pleasure boat by young girls in Chinese costumes Date:
1847-52 Publisher:
Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorō |
|
Another state of the above
triptych |
|
The existence of this
polyptych makes it unclear whether the above states were originally larger
compositions |
|
Series:
None Title:
Up-to-date Teruuji in an Old Picture at an Description:
Prince Genji at an old temple, not a specific stage performance Date:
1849-51 Publisher:
Sawa-ya Kōkichi |
|
Series:
Moon, Snow, and Flowers (Getsusekka no
uchi) Robinson:
Not listed Title:
Snow (Yuki) Description:
Date:
1847-52 Publisher:
Jōshūya Kinzō |
|
Title: Genji hotaru Description:
Catching fireflies on a summer’s evening Date: 1848 Publisher:
Enshū-ya Hokobei |
|
Title:
None Description:
Six beauties and Prince Genji watching the antics of a performing monkey (saru-mawashi) Date: c.
1850 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei |
|
Title: Shunshoku hime hajime Description:
Prince Genji on horseback Date: c.
1845-1847 Publisher:
Ningyo-ya Takichi |
|
Title:
Imayo - Tale of Ise Description:
Imayo- Tale of Ise Date:
1847-1852 Publisher: NOTE: This
triptych is from The Tales of Ise (Ise
monogatari, 伊勢物語), and not from The Tale of Genji. However, like most Genji triptychs, it
portrays a handsome well dressed young man surrounded by beautiful women. |
|
Title:
Murasaki’s Description:
Prince Genji washing his hands (centre) with two women in attendance Date: Publisher:
Kazusa-ya Iwazō (Iwakichi) |
|
Title:
None Description:
Prince Genji with attendants and falling cherry blossoms watching the
shellfish gatherers on the shore at low tide Date: Publisher:
Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke |
|
Title:
None Description:
Prince Genji and his dog, between two courtesans, under blossoming cherry
trees Date: 1854 Publisher:
San-Tetsu |
|
Title:
None Description:
Young nobleman (possibly Genji) shooting an arrow at a target as archery
practice, with kneeling woman in front of him and attendants watching Date: Publisher:
Enshu-ya Matabei |
“Robinson” indicates listing in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson,
1961,
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE
