Scene from "The Gatehouse" Chapter of The Tale of Genji
関屋図屏風
Tawaraya Sotatsu · 17th century (Edo period) · Folding screen
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The Important Cultural Property "Scene from 'The Gatehouse' Chapter of The Tale of Genji" is a 17th-century (Edo period) gold-ground screen by Tawaraya Sotatsu with an inscription by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro, depicting a scene from the "Sekiya" chapter. It is held by the Tokyo National Museum.
- Artist
- Tawaraya Sotatsu
- Date
- 17th century (Edo period)
- Medium / format
- Folding screen
About this work
This screen shows an ox-drawn carriage placed toward the right of a gold ground, with attendants in whitish costumes gathered around it. It is color on paper with a gold ground and measures 95.5 x 273.0 cm. It is designated an Important Cultural Property. On the panels at the left, a calligraphic waka poem can be seen.
The poem was written by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro, a leading poet of the early Edo period who served the imperial court. From its content, the scene can be identified as one from the "Sekiya" chapter of The Tale of Genji. On his way to a pilgrimage to Ishiyama-dera Temple, Hikaru Genji meets the party of his former lover Utsusemi at Osaka Barrier and recalls the past, and the white of the attendants' costumes gleams and creates a wave-like movement.
Where can I see it?
Exhibitions change over time. Check each museum's exhibition information before you visit.
Museums that hold this work
- Tokyo National MuseumMuseum's page for this work (opens in a new tab)
Taito City, Tokyo Accession no. A-12190
Plan your visit to Tokyo National Museum
Find places to stay, activities and rental cars for a visit to Tokyo National Museum, which holds "Scene from "The Gatehouse" Chapter of The Tale of Genji".
Frequently asked questions
- Who painted Scene from "The Gatehouse" Chapter of The Tale of Genji, and when?
- Scene from "The Gatehouse" Chapter of The Tale of Genji is by Tawaraya Sotatsu, made in 17th century (Edo period). Medium: Folding screen.
- Where can I see Scene from "The Gatehouse" Chapter of The Tale of Genji?
- It is held by Tokyo National Museum. Exhibitions change, so check each museum's information before you visit.
Sources and references
- ColBase (Tokyo National Museum) (in Japanese) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-05)
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