Scenes from the Tale of Genji

late 1700s

Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on gilded paper

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In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland — check current display status with the museum.

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Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Folding screens served as temporary dividers in traditional Japanese open-plan architectural spaces. This pair was inspired by Japan’s most celebrated work of literature, the Tale of Genji , written by Murasaki Shikibu, an attendant to the empress in the early 11th-century imperial court. The novel follows the love life of the “Shining Prince” Genji and delves into the psychological states of his many companions. Distinct episodes are nestled within a matrix of golden clouds and landscape elements. Each screen includes six episodes presented in a nonlinear fashion, capturing scattered highlights of the story.

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