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Yoshitoshi

One hundred aspects of the moon 20 Aug – 20 Nov 2016

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Aristocracy and the elite

Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Jōganden moon - Minamoto no Tsunemoto, December 1888

The high-ranking tenth-century courtier Minamoto no Tsunemoto was known for his excellent skills as a poet and an archer. Standing with his back turned to the viewers, Tsunemoto is shown here executing one of his heroic acts. One autumn night in 932, as Emperor Shujaku strolled in the garden in the Jōganden wing of the imperial palace in Kyoto, a demon taking the shape of a giant deer appeared on the roof and prepared to leap on him. Tsunemoto, who was present, killed the beast with a single ‘turnip-headed’ arrow between the eyes.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Seson temple moon - Captain Yoshitaka, 1888

Fujiwara no Yoshitaka held the rank of shōshō (‘minor captain’), at the tenth-century Heian court. As a 12 year old, he garnered attention at poetry parties at the palace for composing linked verses. To avoid conflict with his older brother, Agechika, who was likewise an accomplished poet, Yoshitaka eventually gave up poetry to study Buddhism. Dressed in courtly attire, he is shown sitting deep in thought in an extensive garden ground on a moonlit night. Even though no characteristic landmarks are in sight, the print’s title identifies the location as the ground of Seson temple outside of Kyoto.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Mount Ashigara moon - Yoshimitsu, October 1889

The 11th-century courtier and warrior Minamoto no Yoshimitsu was not only accomplished in martial arts but, above all, in music. His favourite instrument is the sho, a mouth organ made with bamboo reeds. One evening, on his way to battle, he was followed by the young son of his deceased sho teacher. Yoshimitsu tried to convince the youth to turn around, but could only do so after he agreed to teach him a beautiful tune that he had learnt from the boy’s father. This event took place on Mount Ashigara on a moonlit night. The story is recorded in Collection of things heard in the past and present, a history compiled in 1254.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Ishiyama moon, October 1889

A lady dressed in the costume of the Heian court sits at a low desk on the verandah of a temple building and gazes out to the full moon as if searching for inspiration. The title cartouche indicates the location as Ishiyama, a small village on the shore of Lake Biwa outside of Kyoto. The main temple in Ishiyama was a popular travel destination for Heian court ladies. The purple robe of the court lady seen here suggests that she is Murasaki Shikibu (‘murasaki’ means ‘purple’), the 11th-century author of Japan’s oldest novel, The tale of Genji. It is believed that Murasaki wrote the story during a sojourn in the Ishiyama temple.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Mount Miyaji moon - Moronaga, November 1889

Being on the losing side of the Hōgen Rebellion in 1156, the courtier Fujiwara no Moronaga was sent to exile on the island of Shikoku. One day in autumn, he wandered around in the countryside and came to Mount Miyagi, which was famous for its forest and waterfall. Moved by the sound of the water and the songs of the birds, Moronaga started to play a tune on his biwa (short-necked lute). The music soothed his homesickness. Charmed by his music, suijin (the water goddess) appeared, dressed as a travelling noblewoman.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Lunacy - unrolling letters, 1889

Undoubtedly one of the most poignant stories and designs in this series. The protagonist is Ochiyo, who served as a maid in Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s household. One day, Ochiyo received news of her lover’s death. She went mad with grief and wandered around the capital, unrolling and rolling the letters he had sent her until she died of exhaustion. Ochiyo is seen here walking across a bridge, tossing her lover’s letter in the air. The paper scroll, now in tatters after being read over and over, forms a circle that replaces the absent moon.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Hōrin temple moon - Yokobue, December 1890

A young guard fell in love with Yokobue, but his father forbade them to marry. As he could not choose between the two, the distressed young man left to become a monk at Hōrin temple in the mountains. Yokobue went to see Ajō (the new religious name of the young man) and knocked on the temple gate. When he realised who it was, he too started to weep. Frightened she may persuade him to alter his decision from becoming a monk, he sent word that no one of his name was staying there. She left to become a nun. Yokobue is shown here as she comes down the mountain with sleeves wet with weeping, the dark clouds hovering over the distant moon. Her hands are clasped together indicating her distress. The interwoven pine trees, the symbol of lovers, fade into the background.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Kazan temple moon, December 1890

In 985, at the beginning of his reign as emperor at 17 years old, Kazan was mourning the death of his favourite consort. Kaneie, an ambitious politician of the Fujiwara family, tricked the emperor into taking the vows of a priest, in which case he would be forced to abdicate. Kaneie sent his son Michikane to give an emotional speech to Kazan, announcing that he himself was to become a priest and inviting Kazan to join him, although, in fact, he had no intention of going to the ceremony. Kazan is shown here with a retainer on the way to Gangyō temple on a moonlit night so bright that he feared he would be discovered. Kazan became a priest and hence lost power.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Saga Moor moon, 1891

Emperor Takakura was infatuated with the beautiful Kogō no Tsubone, who served his wife, Empress Kenreimonin. Kenreimonin felt if Kogō had a son by her husband the child could be a risk to the throne. The empress gave orders to poison Kogō, so she ran away. The emperor was so upset that he ordered that Kogō be found. The courtier and flute player Nakakuni, who had performed with Kogō – a brilliant koto (zither) player – rode on his horse around the countryside looking for her. Here, in this bright moonlit scene, Nakakuni is playing the song Sōfuren (‘love for the husband’) on his flute. He finds her as she responds to his tune on her koto. She ultimately returned to the emperor, had a baby girl, and was sent away to become a nun.

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Aristocracy and the elite

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
The moon and the abandoned old woman, December 1891

Recorded in Japanese literature for hundreds of years, the act in rural areas of discarding old people due to economic necessity was contrary to the expectations of filial piety more prevalent in the other prints of the series. Here, under an autumn moon, a peasant carries an old lady on his back up the mountainside. The small figures, dominated by a landscape, are portrayed against a gigantic pine tree, which is a symbol of longevity. In one of the stories about this subject, Yamato monogatari, a man from Nagano province deserts his aunt in the mountains, but is forced to return to her out of guilt.

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