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Kagari-bi (chapter 27) from the album Illustrations for Genji monogatari in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints

Ebina Masao (1913-1980)
 

Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Kagari-bi (chapter 27) from the album

Illustrations for Genji monogatari

in Fifty-Four Wood-Cut Prints

by Ebina Masao, c. 1953

Ebina Masao (1913-1980)


IHL Cat. #2448

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


Print Details

 IHL Catalog #2448
 Title or Description
Bonfire 篝火 Kagari-bi
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 
latest revision:
6/22/2021
3/24/2021 created