Product Description

A six-fold paper screen painted in ink and colour on a gold ground with autumn flowers and grasses

 

Japan 17th century Edo period

 

Dimensions: H. 53cm x W. 166.5cm (20¾” x 65½”)

 

Not only the changing colours of autumn leaves but also flowers and grasses of the same season have been popular subjects in Japanese art, literature and poetry from an early period. In particular, the aki no nanakusa (seven grasses of autumn) theme dates to the eighth century poetry collection Manyōshū (Collection of Myriad Leaves) and has continued to be a favourite theme. As in the below two poems by an aristocrat and poet Yamanoue no Okura (660-733) included in the Manyōshū, the seven autumn grasses consist of hagi (bush clover), susuki (pampas grass), kuzu (arrowroot), nadeshiko (fringed pink), onimaeshi (golden lace), fujibakama (mistflower) and kikyō (bellflower).

Aki no no ni

sakitaru hana o

yubi orite

kaki kazoureba

nana kusa no hana.

Flowers blossoming

in autumn fields -

when I count them

on my fingers

then there are seven.

 

Hagi no hana  

obana kuzubana

nadeshiko no hana

ominaeshi

mata fujibakama

asagao no hana

The flowers of bush clover,

pampas grass, arrowroot,

fringed pink,

golden lace,

also, mistflower

and bellflower

n.b There are numerous old scratches and marks throughout the screens commensurate with age.