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East Asian Art Calligraphy of the Poem "Cold Fishing Nets" Made in JapanEdo Period (1615-1868), Early to mid-19th century Nukina Kaioku, Japanese, 1778 - 1863 Ink on paper; mounted on silver leaf as a six-fold screen Currently not on view 2005-127-1 Purchased with the Henry B. Keep Fund, 2005 |
Gallery LabelNukina Kaioku was one of the central figures of the Japanese literati culture in Kyoto during the nineteenth century. He was a scholar, poet, calligrapher, and seal carver. He was also a musician who played the Chinese zither (qin). The poem on this screen, composed by Kaioku, is in the traditional Chinese-style seven-character couplet mode.Following are excerpts from the poem "Cold Fishing Nets" by Nukina Kaioku, with translations by William Hollis, adapted from Jonathan Chaves: wild ducks fly far and waves stir the sand their small boats float like grass and they drift unable to see cold shrimp pass however they pour out a massive catch of red-tail carp there's a frosty sound they warm their turtle-skin hands in the draft at the back of the brazier a gathering of reed-blossoms |
