Title
Chapter 'Asagao' from 'The Tale of Genji' with accompanying calligraphy
1650-1700
Artist
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Japan
- Period
- Edo (Tokugawa) period 1615 - 1868 → Japan
- Date
- 1650-1700
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- two album leaves, illustration: ink, colour and gold on silk; calligraphy: ink on decorated paper
- Dimensions
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a - painting, 21.2 x 18.2 cm
b - calligraphy, 39.4 cm
- Credit
- Purchased with funds provided by the Asian Art Collection Benefactors 2009
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 313.2009.a-b
- Copyright
- Artist information
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Sumiyoshi Gukei
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
Along with the Tosa-school in Kyoto, the Sumiyoshi lineage is considered the most important exponent of the indigenous Yamato-e tradition. The son of Sumiyoshi Jōkei (1561-1633), Gukei followed his father from Kyoto to Edo in the 17th century to work as an official painter for the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 1682, Gukei was appointed ‘painter-in-attendance’ ('oku eshi') to Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. This high rank secured the future of the Sumiyoshi lineage. Later, he was awarded the honorary title of 'hōgen' (‘Eye of the Dharma’).
The album leaf ‘Asagao’ and the accompanying calligraphy belongs to a set of 54 images (and 54 calligraphy), illustrating the 54 chapters of the 11th century literary masterwork 'The Tale of Genji'. Gukei’s illustration follows the traditional iconography for this chapter (Chapter 20 in the tale), showing Prince Genji’s attempt to cheer up Murasaki by ordering colourfully dressed page girls to shape snow balls in a wintry garden.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, August 2009.
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Places
Where the work was made
Japan
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Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
Beyond Words: Calligraphic Traditions of Asia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 27 Aug 2016–30 Apr 2017