About This Print
In this scene from chapter 6, Suetsumu-hana, the eighteen year old Prince Genji sees Suetsumu-hana, a gifted koto player with an unattractive red nose, for the first time.
Source: Genji gojūshijō 源氏五十四帖, published by Shin Kōbe Shinbunsha, 1974.
One snowy evening in winter, however, he called on her whom he had not seen for some time. Rejoicing over his visit, Suetsumu-hana did all she could to please the Prince. The next morning, he accompanied her to the verandah and saw her in the morning sunshine. Then, she turned out to be gaunt and tall, her looks pale, her forehead prominent, her nose aquiline with its drooping tip tinged red.... Prince Genji could not help thinking that once deserted by him, such a girl would find nobody else to look after her. Even after this, Prince Genji continued to give her a helping hand in point of her livelihood.
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 | #2496 |
| Title or Description |  variously translated as The Safflower; The Safflower Princes |
| 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 5/8 x 12 3/16 in. (21.9 x 31 cm) |
| H x W Image | 8 5/16 x 11 15/16 in. (21.1 x 30.3 cm) |
| Collections This Print | Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College 2006.1.52, 2018.1.78; 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 | |
5/30/2021 created
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