Moon Viewing, from The Tale of Heike

平家物語巻第五より月見図

1700s

Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村

(Japanese, 1716–1783)

Culture

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Medium

hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper

Measurements

Overall: 157.5 x 28.6 cm (62 x 11 1/4 in.); Painting only: 111.3 x 27.1 cm (43 13/16 x 10 11/16 in.)

Credit Line

Sundry Purchase Fund 1971.233

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Location

235A Japanese

Did You Know?

The Tale of the Heike is a great historical romance written around 1240.

Description

Drawing from Japanese literature, Yosa Buson copied almost the entire text of the “Moon Viewing” episode from The Tale of the Heike, a story of the rise and fall of the Taira family. The two characters he painted were given nicknames based on 31-syllable waka poems they composed. Seen from behind at the top is Matsuyoi, or “Waiting at Nightfall,” while the person striding below is Mono ka wa Kurando, roughly equivalent to “‘It’s Nothing’ Chamberlain.”