About This Print
In this scene from chapter 27, Kagari-bi (Bonfire), Prince Genji, age thirty-six, confesses his love to Lady Tamakazura.
Source: The Tale of Genji, Lady Murasaki, Dead Authors Society, 2018
Genji was going off to Tamakazura's northeast quarter and spending whole days there, large parts of them in music lessons.
They lay down side by side with their heads pillowed against the koto. He stayed very late, sighing and asking whether anywhere else in the world there were attachments quite like this one. Reluctantly, fearful of gossip, he was about to leave. Noting that the flares in the garden were low, he sent a guards officer to stir and refuel them.
They had been set out, not too brightly, under a spindle tree that arched gracefully over the cool waters of the brook, far enough from the house so that they too seemed cool and gentle. In the soft light the lady was more beautiful than ever. The touch of her hair was coolly elegant, and a certain shyness and diffidence added to her charm. He did not want to leave.
For an excellent introduction to The Tale of Genji see Penguin's "Short Summary of the Tale" at https://www.penguin.com/static/packages/us/taleofgenji/introduction3.php
About The Album
For information about the album please go to Hahakigi (chapter 2) from the album Illustrations for Genji monogatari in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints on this site.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #2448 |
| Title or Description |  variously translated as The Flares, Flares, The Cressets, Cresset Fires |
| Series | Illustrations for Genji monogatari in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints 木版画源氏五十四帖 Mokuhanga Genji gojūyonjō |
| Artist | Ebina Masao (1913-1980) |
| Signature | not signed |
| Seal | 正夫 Masao |
| Publication Date | 1953 or after (originally issued 1953; multiple editions are known) |
| Publisher | Yamada Shoin 山田書院 |
| Carver | carving supervised by Yoshio Kawamo [Kawatsura Yoshio 川面義雄 (1880-1963)] |
| Printer | |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | excellent |
| Genre | genji-e |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | ōban |
| H x W Paper | 8 11/16 x 12 3/8 in. (22.1 x 31.4 cm) |
| H x W Image | 8 1/4 x 11 15/16 in. (21 x 30.3 cm) |
| Collections This Print | Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College 2009.1.7; University of Kansas Libraries KU Bib ID: 4123242 (entire portfolio; images not shown); National Diet Library Call Number 913.36-E17g-K (entire portfolio dated 1958; images not shown) |
| Reference Literature | |
6/22/2021
3/24/2021 created
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