Murasaki Shikibu-double-page illustration from volume I (sheet 5-6) of the book Ehon Tokiwa-gusa (Picture Book of Evergreens)
Artist
Nishikawa Sukenobu
(Japanese, 1671 – 1750)
Date1731
Mediumwoodblock print; ink on paper; sumizuri-e
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineGift of Frederick W. Gookin
Object number1933.170
DescriptionDouble-page book illustrationLabel TextIllustration from vol. I of Ehon Tokiwagusa (A Picture Book of Evergreens); signed sakusha gako (author and conceiver) Bunkado Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1751); carvers Fujimura Zen'emon and Murakami Gen'emon of Osaka; preface dated 1730 (Kyoho 15); issued by Morita Shotaro of Osaka in the 8th month 1731 (Kyoho 16). The famous author of the "Genji Monogatari" is shown seated in a room in one of the buildings of the Ishiyama Buddhist temple on a hill on the shore of Lake Biwa, where she wrote the book. A table with writing materials is on the adjoining engawa and she is resting one arm upon it. Shikibu is her designation as a mistress of ceremonies in the Imperial Court. She was one of five poetesses, the Nashitsubo no Go-kasen, who were ladies of honor to the Empress Joto-mon-in, widow of Ichijo-tenno (979-1011)
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