A Modern Take on the Well Curb Episode of The Tales of Ise

A Modern Take on the Well Curb Episode of The Tales of Ise

Chōbunsai Eishi Eishi (Japanese, 1756-1829)

publisher: Nishimura Yohachi (Japanese, active mid-19th century)

1791/1792

Japan: Edo period (1615-1868)

color woodblock print on paper; ōban benigirai nishiki-e; triptych

Ukiyoe shūka v. 9, pl. 103-105

image/sheet: 14 7/8 in x 29 1/8 in (overall)

inscription: くらべこし　ふりわけ髪も　かた過ぎぬ　君ならすして　たれかあぐへき, printed in black ink, left print, upper 1/4, within the block Transliteration (Translation): Kurabe koshi / furiwake kami mo / kata suginu / kimi narazushite / tare ka agubeki (The hair parted in the middle / That I measured against yours / Now hangs below my shoulders. / For whom shall it be put up, / If not for you?) Language: Japanese Description: In Tales of Ise, the chapter on The Well Curb (Tsutsu izutsu), this is the response of the young woman to the poem in the center sheet of the triptych.

inscription: 筒井つの　井筒にかけし　まろかたけ　過にけらしな　いもみざるまに, printed in black, center print, upper 1/4, within the block Transliteration (Translation): Tsutsu itsu no izutsu ni kakeshi maro ga take suginikerashi na imozaru ma ni (My height that we measured / At the well curb / Has, it seems, . Passed the old mark / Since last I saw you. [Translation by Helen C. McCullough]) Language: Japanese Description: Poem by the young man in Tales of Ise chapter on 'The Well Curb' (Tsutsu izutsu)

signature: 栄之画, printed in black ing, right sheet: right center; center sheet: left center; left sheet: left center Transliteration (Translation): Eishi ga (picture [by] Eishi) Language: Japanese

censor's mark: 極, printed in black ink, right sheet: lower left; center sheet: lower right; left sheet; lower center Translation: kiwame Language: Japanese

publisher's mark: [seal of Nishimuraya Yohachi] & 永壽版, printed in black ink; the characters within a square cartouche, on each sheet Transliteration (Translation): Eiju han (Published by Eiju) Language: Japanese Description: Nishimuraya Yohashi's firm name was Eijudô 永壽堂

inscription: 月や　あらん　春や　むかしの　はる　ならん　我身ひとつ　もとのめにして, printed in black ink, right print, upper 1/4, within the block Transliteration (Translation): Tsuki ya aran[u] / haru ya mukashi no / haru naran[u] / waga mi hitotsu / moto no mi ni shite (Is that not the moon? And is the spring not the spring Of a year ago? This body of mine alone Remains as it was before.) Language: Japanese Description: A poem by Ariwara no Narihira which appears in Tales of Ise. Translation by Donald Keene.

The Mary Andrews Ladd Collection

32.263a-c

public domain

bijinga

Edo

Japanese woodblock prints

relief printing

relief prints

The Mary Andrews Ladd Collection

The Tales of Ise

triptychs

woodcuts