The Burke Collection
Ariwara Narihira (在原業平, 825–880), from Fujifusa version of Thirty-six Immortal Poets (藤房本三十六歌仙絵)
Click to enlarge
47-1

Catalogue information

Muromachi period, first half of 15th century

Handscroll fragment, mounted as hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

25.2 x 45.7 cm (9 7/8 x 18 in.)

Donated to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York by the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation in 2015

Literature

Mori Tōru 1978, p. 31 (ill.)
Mori Tōru
1978
Uta awase-e no kenkyū: Kasen-e (Studies of paintings of poetry competitions: Portraits of the Immortal Poets). Rev. ed. Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten.

See full bibliography

;
Mori Tōru 1979, p. 70 (ill.).
Mori Tōru
1979
[Editor]. Sanjūrokkasen-e (Portraits of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets). Shinshū Nihon emakimono zenshū (Survey of Japanese handscroll paintings: New edition), 19. Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten.

See full bibliography

Additional details

Text

Ariwara Narihira: head of Chamberlain’s Office in 847; Junior fourth rank lower; Imperial Guard with the rank of lieutenant general in 877; grandson of Emperor Heijō, fifth son of Prince Abo; head of Judiciary Office; mother, Princess Izu; died in 880, aged 56; served under Emperors Ninmei, Montoku, Seiwa, Yōzei.

If this world had never known the ephemeral charm of cherry blossoms, / then our hearts in spring / might match nature’s deep tranquility.