'Hyakunin Isshu zukō kokura no nishiki' 百人一首図考 小倉のにしき...

The first illustration comes from a printed edition of the famous traditional poetry anthology Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets), illustrated in the classic Rinpa style of the master Ogata Kōrin. Specifically, this volume is part of a pictorial work inspired by these poems titled Hyakunin Isshu Zukō Ogura no Nishiki (百人一首図考 小倉のにしき), which collects woodblock prints and ornamental designs based on the traditional verses. Scene characteristics: • The Poem: In the upper right corner, the calligraphed text of the classic poem is visible—attributed to Funya no Asayasu (or Harumichi no Tsuraki)—evoking the natural beauty of autumn. • Visual Composition: The artwork depicts a landscape where red and orange momiji (maple) leaves float on the winding currents of a blue river—a decorative motif highly characteristic of Japanese art. On the left side, a folding screen or overlaid panel is incorporated, decorated with grasses and geometric patterns in dark tones and silver; this enhances the aesthetic contrast typical of the Japanese design school of the early 20th century. 1. Original transcription of the poem The heading on the right indicates the author’s name, 春道列樹 (Harumichi no Tsuraki). The classical poem (number 32 of the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu) is traditionally transcribed as follows: 山川に 風のかけたる しがらみは 流れもあへぬ もみぢなりけり (Note: In the fluid calligraphy of the image, some characters are written in hentaigana—archaic cursive forms—but they correspond exactly to these verses.) 2. Transliteration (Modern Japanese reading) Yama-gawa ni kaze no kaketaru shigarami wa nagare mo aenu momiji nari keri 3. English translation In the mountain torrent, the weir the wind has built turns out to be nothing other than red maple leaves, unable to flow on with the current. Explanation of the poem: The poet is traveling through a mountain pass in autumn and sees how a massive accumulation of maple leaves (momiji) has blocked the river’s flow. Instead of describing this literally, he employs an ingenious visual metaphor: he personifies the wind, suggesting it has "deliberately built a dam or weir" (shigarami) in the water, only to reveal at the end that this barrier is composed entirely of beautiful autumn leaves resisting being swept away. The second illustration is a color woodblock print from the illustrated book Hyakunin Isshu Zukō Ogura no Nishiki (百人一首図考 小倉のにしき), published in 1935. The artwork was created by illustrator Shiko Iida (飯田始晃) and offers a visual, interpretive depiction of one of the poems from the celebrated classical anthology Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (The Hundred Poets, One Poem Each). Artwork details: • Associated poem: The vertical text on the right identifies the poet, Sakanoue no Korenori (坂上是則), a nobleman and poet of the Heian period. • The poem (Waka): 朝ぼらけ 有明の月と みるまでに 吉野の里に ふれる白雪 (Asaborake ariake no tsuki to miru made ni Yoshino no sato ni fureru shirayuki) • Approximate translation: "At daybreak, the light is so clear it almost looks like the dawn moon... yet it is the white snow falling upon the village of Yoshino." • Visual composition: The lower section of the illustration exquisitely captures the snowy winter landscape of Yoshino, while the dark upper band is adorned with stylized patterns and whimsical snowflakes, evoking both the winter chill and the celestial radiance described in the poem. Both illustrations are enhanced with metallic inks (gold and silver). Works with some foxing (see the photos). Second-hand. Please refer to the provided photographs for a better understanding of the item’s condition. Provenance: The seller can certify that the lot was legally purchased Shipping method: registered mail, securely packaged. All items are shipped 12/24 hours after payment is made. Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be before bidding.

Estimate:£5.07

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