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Introduction

Poets, Heroes, and Courtiers

Literary and Narrative Traditions in Japanese Prints
September 6 - December 1, 2002

Poets who express one’s most intimate feelings, heroes whose glorious feats resound through the ages, courtiers whose grace and elegance are perpetuated through written descriptions: poetry and prose reflect the emotions and aspirations of the society that produced these literary forms. The Japanese narrative tradition is full of tales of heroism, power, glory, and the vicissitudes of life and reversals of fortune, whereas more personal expressions of feeling are relegated to the serious genres of poetry. Both the prose and poetic forms are important components of the Japanese literary tradition.

The Japanese printmaking tradition evolved, at least in part, from a tradition of book illustration. The prints that are included in this exhibition demonstrate the various ways in which Japanese printmakers referred back to and utilized the richness of this literary tradition. In addition to depictions of poets, an illustration for the poetic cycle The Eight Views of Ōmi (Ōmi hakkei) is included here. Illustrations of narratives or tales, known in Japanese as monogatari, form the major part of this exhibition. Some of the samurai tales depicted here derive from the Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari), which chronicles the conflict between the Taira and Minomoto clans as they vied for political power at the end of the twelfth century. Others derive from legends surrounding the great heroes of the past, like Minamoto Musashi. Whatever their source, the printmaker’s images make it clear that the literary tradition was a rich source of inspiration for Japanese printmakers of the Edo period (1600-1868).

Selected Objects

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Chapter 7 of the 11 chapters of Chushingura (The treasury of loyal retainers) (Chushingura shichidanme junimaizoku), 1780's

Utagawa Sadahide

Miyamoto Musashi and Kasaahara Shinzaburo (Miyamoto Musashi to Kasahara Shinzaburo), 1840s

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川 国芳

The Wada Rebellion: Asahina Saburō Yoshihide Attacking with Fierce Courage and Strength (Wada kassen Asahina Saburō Yoshihide mōyū kairyoku no zu), 1857, 5th month

Chōbunsai Eishi

The Well Curb, Episode 23 from Ise Monogatari, ca. 1790

Attributed to Nishimura Shigenaga

Akuta River (Akutagawa), ca. 1720's

Sumiyoshi

The Tale of Genji, late 1600s

Sumiyoshi

The Tale of Genji, 1600s

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

The Broom Tree (Hahakigi), 1857, 11th month
No Image Available

Torii Kiyomitsu I

Yoshitsune koshigoejo (Yoshitsune's Koshigoejo letter), Published Horeki 4, 1754

Katsushika Hokusai

Abe no Nakamaro [701-770] (Abe no Nakamaro), ca. 1835-1836

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Matano Gorō Kagehisa Dropping a Rock on Sanada Yoichi Yoshisada, 1810s

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Azumaya, 1858.12

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川 国芳

Nakamura Kansuke Masatatsu warding off a jar of hot ashes hurled at him (Nakamura Kansuke Masatatsu), 1852.12

Nishimura Shigenaga

Autumn moon, Ishiyama Temple (Ishiyama shugetsu), ca. 1720's

Kitagawa Utamaro

Ushiwakamaru Serenading Princess Joruri by Flute, 1790s

Katsushika Hokusai

Ono no Komachi, 1810s

Kitao Masayoshi

Chapter 8 from Perspective Pictures of the Syllabary Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Kanadehon Chushingura), 1790's

Katsukawa Shuntei

The Warriors Sato Tadanobu and Yokawa Kakuhan (Sato Tadanobu; Yokawa Kakuhan), ca. 1800

More objects +

Exhibition Checklist

Poets, Heroes, and Courtiers : Literary and Narrative Traditions in Japanese Prints

September 6 - December 1, 2002
View Checklist PDF

RISD Museum

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