Emperor Go-Nara (1496-1557)

Ten poems

Details

Emperor Go-Nara (1496-1557)
Ten poems
Kaishi mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on paper
12½ x 22 1/8in. (31.8 x 56.2cm.)
Wood box authentication signed and inscribed Naniwa .....

Provenance

Kobayashi Masanao

Further details

Prospective buyers of this Lot should be aware that as an 'Important Art Object' this Lot cannot, as matters presently stand, leave Japan. Accordingly, it is offered for sale in New York from the catalogue and will not be available in New York. Buyers are responsible for making arrangements for collection of Lots from Christie's Tokyo Office upon receipt by Christie's Inc., New York, of payment in full. Successful buyers are responsible for registering their acquisition of the Lot with the Cultural Agency of the Minsitry of Education of the Japanese Government within 14 days of the date of the sale. This Lot is subject to Japanese consumption tax at 5 on the hammer price, but is not subject to New York State sales tax. Please see the Important Notice that precedes Lot 81 for more information.

Prospective buyers may contact Christie's Representatives in Tokyo for an appointment to view the work.

Lot Essay

This scroll is registered as Juyo Bijutsuhin (Important Art Object) by the Cultural Ministry of Japan, with a certificate dated 1937.12.24.

Emperor Go-Nara was the second son of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara (see lot 82) and became the 105th emperor of Japan. He transcribed the Buddhist sutra Hannya shingyo and dedicated copies of it to temples to ward off famine and epidemics. He is also famous as a scholar of Chinese literature, having studied with Kiyohara Nobukata (1475-1550) and Sanjonishi Sanetaka (1455-1537). He wrote a diary, Tenchoshu, and the poetry anthologies Go-Narain goshu and Go-Narain onhyakushu.

The poems read:

Shikishima no Yamato Shimane no awagasumi
Morokoshi mademo haru wa tachirashi

Oshinabete haru o sakura ni nashihatete
Chirucho kotono nakaramashikaba

Yammabuki no hana ni sekarushi omoigawa
Iro no chishio wa shita ni michitsutsu

Tachikawaru kyo wa uzuki no hajimetoya
Kami no mimuro ni sakaki toruran

Matsukane no iwa moru shimizu sekitomete
Musu wa nusaki ni kazezo suzushiki

Tsuyu nagara misebaya hito ni asananaku
Utsurou niwa no aki wa kino mae

Amatsu sora kiyoki yube no akikaze ni
Yama no ha noboru tsuki o mirukana

Hatsushigure furisakemireba akane sasu
Mikasa no yama wa momiji shinikeri

Tsuki sayuru toyo no akari no kumo no ueni
Otome no sode mo hikari soetsutsu

Yuki no uchi ni tsunenimo michinu matsu no ha no
Tsurenaki yama mo kururu toshi kana

For another example of calligraphy by Emperor Go-Nara, see lot 84.

More from Japanese and Korean Art

View All