Skip to content

Beneath the Autumn Leaves (Momiji no Ga) Chapter 7

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1853, Wood cut
Beneath the Autumn Leaves (Momiji no Ga) Chapter 7
Beneath the Autumn Leaves (Momiji no Ga) Chapter 7
Beneath the Autumn Leaves (Momiji no Ga) Chapter 7
Share
Category
Library Item
Item no
16252
Title
Beneath the Autumn Leaves (Momiji no Ga) Chapter 7 from the series "A Modern Collection of Genji in Colour Prints" ("Ima Genji nishiki-e awase")
Description
A man and woman dance with two armed demons under the red maple leaves. The dancers wear Heian court robes. Behind them a curtain has been hung between two trees to provide a theatrical backdrop. This is a performance of a masked dance drama linked to the story of 'Momijigari' or 'The Maple Viewing Party'. The plot of 'Momijigari' shares key themes with Tanehiko's 'A Rustic Genji'. In 'Momijigari', a beautiful woman, Sarashina no hime, approaches Taira no Koremochi at Mount Togakushi. She offers Koremochi rice wine and bewitches him with her dancing, lulling him to sleep. The princess is actually Kijo, the jealous demon of the mountain whose real intention is to kill Koremochi and steal his sword, the Kogarasumaru. The hero is warned in his dream of the imminent danger and awakes just in time to defeat the demon. In 'A Rustic Genji', the protagonist, Mitsuuji, is searching for the stolen sword, also called the Kogarasumaru.

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
Location
Art and Design Library
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG​
£7.32(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF​
£37.20(inc. VAT 20%)
You can view and use digital images for personal and educational use. For more information, read our policy on image use. If you wish to use our images for commercial use, please contact us.