Trefoil Knots, Chapter 47 (Agemaki)

Category

Library Item

Item no

16242

Title

Trefoil Knots, Chapter 47 (Agemaki) from the series "A Modern Collection of Genji in Colour Prints" ("Ima Genji nishiki-e awase")

Description

Mitsuuji (Genji) is depicted crossing a raised wooden walkway, accompanied by a woman and a young girl who hold branches of cherry blossom. Mitsuuji is elegantly dressed in an ornate purple and black outer kimono. The fabric is patterened with a golden undulating linear design punctuated with flower heads. His samurai sword is visible at his waist. The young girl, who leads the way across the bridge, wears a long sleeved red kimono with a floral design. Her hair is also decorated with a floral headdress. The woman at the rear wears her hair in a modest style. Her kimono is decorated with 'Genji ko', one of the many linear designs constructed from incense sticks that is used to refer to particular chapters in Murasaki Shikibu's 'Tale of Genji'. Her olive green obi belt is tied behind her. Surrounding the walk way are clouds of cherry blossom. Lanterns hang down from the ceiling of the covered walkway.

This image derives from the serial novel or 'gokan', 'A Fake Murasaki and a Rustic Genji' (Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji) written by Ryutei Tanehiko and illustrated by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), that was published between 1829-1842. This story reworks elements from the 'Tale of Genji' and transposes the action from the Heian period (794-1185) to the time of the Muromachi era's Onin Wars (1467-1477).

Artist / maker

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)

Date

1853

Size

27.9 x 19.8 cm

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

Signed: Toyokuni ga
Censors' seals: Aratame
Date seal: Tiger year, 2nd month (1854)
Kyoka poem
Murasaki Shikibu 'Tale of Genji', 'Agemaki', Chapter 47. In this chapter the Counselor, Kaoru (Onna San no Miya and Kashiwagi's son), continues to visit the Princesses at Uji. Both sisters continue to mourn their father and have no interest in pursuing romantic affairs. Kaoru still visits the elder sister, Oigimi, and successfully manages to match His Highness, Niou, with the younger sister, Naka no Kimi. Oigimi attempts to make arrangements for her sister's future by encouraging Kaoru to take a special interest in Naka no Kimi. However, although tempted by the prospect of taking both sisters into his care he remains resolute in his decision to court Oigimi. Against her wishes, Kaoru enters through Oigimi's blinds and everyone living in the villa wrongly assumes that they have become lovers.
Niou discovers that it is difficult to visit Naka no Kimi as often as he would like owing to court duties in the City. The sisters take this absence as evidence of Niou's lack of devotion. Niou suggests that a small party of nobles visit the weir, in the hope that while they are in Uji he can secretly steal away and visit Naka no Kimi. However, this does not go according to plan and Niou is unable to leave his guests. This is frustrating and insulting to the sisters who observe the party from across the river. At court, Niou finds himself under pressure to marry Yugiri's Sixth Daughter and news of this reaches the sisters. Oigimi, overwhelmed by guilt and depression, stops eating and begins to waste away. Oigimi's dying wish is that Kaoru transfer his affections to Naka no Kimi. Niou visits Naka no Kimi who has become weak with grief and he decides to move her to the City.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Belts

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hairstyles

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Headdresses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Kimonos

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Lanterns

Military > Arms and armament > Daggers and swords

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Children > Girls

Places > Asia > Japan

Plants > Trees > Cherry trees

Transport > Infrastructure > Walkways

Transport > Infrastructure > Wooden bridges