Kemari Scene from chapter 34 of The Tale of Genji

This depiction of one the most famous scenes from the Tale of Genji (Chapter 34). As a group of young courtiers engages in a game of kick ball (kemari), Nyosan, concubine to Prince Genji spies on the players from inside her screened room. Her escaping cat bursts through the hanging drapery, offering courtier Kashiwagi a forbidden glimpse of Nyosan. The moment leads to a sad affair between Kashiwagi and Nyosan in which Genji is the cuckold and leads to the birth of Kaoru, a son whom Genji must accept even though he knows the truth of the liaison.

Maker(s)
Artist: Reizei Tamechika (1823-1864)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1850-1855
Medium
Ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 102.8 × 50.5 cm (40 1/2 × 19 7/8 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F2002.2a-h
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
cat, concubine, courtier, Edo period (1615 - 1868), game playing, Japan, kakemono, The Tale of Genji
Provenance

To 2002
Klaus Naumann, Tokyo, to 2002

From 2002
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Klaus Naumann in 2002

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Klaus Naumann

Description

This depiction of one the most famous scenes from the Tale of Genji (Chapter 34). As a group of young courtiers engages in a game of kick ball (kemari), Nyosan, concubine to Prince Genji spies on the players from inside her screened room. Her escaping cat bursts through the hanging drapery, offering courtier Kashiwagi a forbidden glimpse of Nyosan. The moment leads to a sad affair between Kashiwagi and Nyosan in which Genji is the cuckold and leads to the birth of Kaoru, a son whom Genji must accept even though he knows the truth of the liaison.

Label

This hanging scroll illustrates one of the most famous scenes from The Tale of Genji. Concealed behind a bamboo screen, Prince Genji's new wife, known as the Third Princess, watches a game of kemari (kickball). Suddenly, her cat rushes out, offering a brief glimpse of the princess to Genji's rival at court, Kashiwagi. They begin an affair that leads to the birth of a son, Kaoru, whom Genji must accept even though he is aware of the illicit liaison.

Reizei Tamechika, who worked as an official court painter in the nineteenth century, created this elegant rendition of the famous scene. His work reflects the refined style and technical perfection that characterized court painting from the Heian period (794-1185)--when The Tale of Genji was written--to Tamechika's era at the end of the Edo period (1615-1868). The artist imbued this frequently rendered scene with lively expression in the movements of the courtiers and a sensitive evocation of the moment within a serene spring setting.

Published References
  • Roger V. Des Forges, John S. Major. The Asian World 600-1500. Medieval and Early Modern World New York. p. 75.
  • John T. Carpenter, Melissa McCormick. The Tale of Genji: A Japanese Classic Illuminated. Exh. cat. New York, New York, 2019. p. 207, fig. 65.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use