tour 2 of 19
Views of Mount Fuji
Sumiyoshi Jokei and unknown calligrapher, 'Journey to the East: Mt Fuji' (Azuma-kudari: Fujinoyama), two
Scene from
Ise monogatari
(Tales of
Ise)
Ise
monogatari (Tales of
Ise) is a collection of over one hundred
brief narrative episodes, each containing one or more classical
poems. It is believed to have been composed in the tenth century,
with the main protagonist modelled after the courtier-poet Ariwara
no Narihira (AD 825-80). Scenes from Ise
monogatari became a common subject for later
painters. Episode no. 9, 'Journey to the East'
(Azuma-kudari),
traditionally interpreted as Narihira's
'exile' from Kyoto, includes a brief scene where
the party pass Mt Fuji and pause to admire an un-seasonal coating
of snow.
Jokei's
depiction of the scene is sparse and informal. The softly rounded,
brilliant green foothills of Fuji recall the ancient roots of
Yamato-e
painting. The stylized triple peak of the moutain is also an
archaic style found on Buddhist 'Mt Fuji
mandalas'.