山岸半残宛書簡 (Yamagishi Hanzan ate shokan)|Letter to Yamagishi Hanzan
dated 1685 (Jōkyō 2)
Medium
Letter mounted as a hanging scroll: ink on paper
Dimensions
Image: 5 3/4 × 43 1/2 in. (14.6 × 110.5 cm) Overall with mounting: 42 1/2 × 44 3/4 in. (108 × 113.7 cm) Overall with knobs: 42 1/2 × 46 7/8 in. (108 × 119.1 cm)
Classification
Calligraphy
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2020
Accession Number
2020.396.23
Art Historical Context
This exquisite hanging scroll features a personal letter written by Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694), Japan’s revered master of haiku poetry addressed to his disciple Yamagishi Hanz and dated 1685 during Edo period (1615–1868). Crafted in ink on paper, the delicate script measures 5¾ × 43½ inches, elegantly mounted for display with traditional knobs, evoking the intimate artistry of epistolary culture. Bashō, who revolutionized haiku with its emphasis on nature, transience, and simplicity, often corresponded with fellow poets, blending prose and verse in his writings. The letter exemplifies Bashō’s m...
About the Artist
Matsuo Bashō 松尾芭蕉 (Japanese) · 1644 –1694
Japanese, 1644–1694