Poem by Emperor Tenchi, from the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the Nurse
Medium
color woodblock print
Dimensions
24.4 × 37 cm
Classification
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
Accession Number
1916.1164
Tags
male
About this artwork
This autumn landscape with rice farmers and travelers is from Katsushika Hokusai’s series of prints inspired by the anthology One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki). While traveling through the countryside, like the two figures in the center, a sudden storm forced the Emperor Tenchi (reigned 661–72) to take shelter in a rice farmer’s hut. The experience produced tears of sympathy for the common people toiling under heavy burdens and living in rough, flimsy homes. Th...