The Tale of Genji

Posted on February 10th, 2009 by solocrow.
Categories: Dead Poets, Generic Blatherings.

The ghost of Yugao by Yoshitoshi

Yes, yes. I know the Ninjas are in need of attention, dear readers — all good things to those who wait! :D

Lately I’ve been absorbed in reading a translation of Lady Murasaki’s The Tale of Genji. Researching various intricacies of the text lead me to a lovely series of prints called One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (1885-1892) by the Japanese artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

The print above illustrates the Ghost of Yugao [one of Genji's conquests on a 'dark and stormy night' in the early chapters of the novel]. Yugao means ‘moonflower’ in Japanese.

A complete listing of the One Hundred Aspects of the Moon can be found here. From the site:

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) is a pupil of Kuniyoshi’s. The first designs of his popular Tsuki hyakushi (A Hundred Views of the Moon) are published in 1885. The subjects are taken from Indian and Chinese legends, famous musicians and poets, and heroes of classic novels and plays.

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