The many extant Tale of Genji narrative handscrolls usually depict from one to three episodes from each of the 54 chapters of the novel of the same name written by the court lady Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. This scene, which is from the oldest and most well-known set of these scrolls, depicts an episode in the 36th chapter, titled "Kashiwagi." Genji is looking at the baby Kaoru in his arms, who he knows is the son of his wife and Kashiwagi. This oldest set of Tale of Genji scrolls is thought to have originally consisted of ten scrolls, though only four remain. For preservation purposes, the individual scenes on these four scrolls have been cut out of their original scroll format and framed separately. These scenes are considered to be the most outstanding among the earliest yamato-e. They show such features as a high density of composition, people drawn with simple "hooks" for noses (kagibana) and elongated "lines" for eyes (hikime), as well as depictions of the interiors of buildings shown from a top view with ceilings removed (fukinuki yatai). They are thought to have been painted during the first half of the 12th century.

Page Top

• Scroll Painting(Emaki)
• Screen and Partition Painting(Shoheiga)
• Buddhist Painting(Butsuga)
• Ink Painting(Suibokuga)
• Litearati Painting(Bunjiga)
• History of Painting