Kuniyoshi 国芳: Seated Beauty with Seigen and Otowa-no-taki 音羽の滝 Waterfall (Reserved)
Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861)
Title: Otowa-no-taki 音羽の滝
Series: Grateful Thanks for Answered Prayers: Waterfall-striped Kimono Fabrics (Taigan jôju arigataki no shima 大願成就有ヶ瀧縞 ) Date: Ca. 1845
We see a thoughtful young woman during a moment of relaxation and introspection. She leans on a decorated armrest that has small rolled scroll of Buddhist sutras and herr hair is fashioned in a relaxed style. She has reached beneath her red under-kimono to touch her cheek with her right hand. Peeking out beneath the left sleeve of her striped kimono is a Buddhist crystal rosary, which means the scroll must be a Buddhist text. She wears a red under-kimono and a blue kimono with a pattern of cherry blossoms on bamboo. Atop her kimono she wears a cloak with waterfall stripes of purple, blue and white; this garment includes a large crest on her shoulders comprised of a chain with tassel. Her shoulder is covered by a purple cape. In her left hand she holds a chain of juzu, of which part only shows under her left kimono sleeve. Her obi has the design combination of stylized waves and hitodama, spirits of the departed.
The poem above her head is by Hôju-tei Funauta, and refers to murasaki, the color purple, in connection with ao-bôzu, a monk; and yamakaze, spring wind.
In the inset a monk (perhaps Seigen), holding a water bucket, climbs up the stairs, looking down on to many colorful umbrellas. Behind him is a blossoming cherry tree in spring. On the right the two sacred waterfalls: Otowa-no-taki, at the Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. The two streams, Konjiki-no-mizu/golden water, symbolizing fulfillment of a wish and Enmei-no-mizu, symbolizing longevity are directed by waterspout from the streams of Mt. Otowa.
The text reads: 宝珠亭船唄 葉さくらに花の梢も青坊主 ちらすはをしき春の山風
Regarding this interesting series, the series title contains multiple layers of wordplay. The major theme is waterfalls, both in the larger design as well as for figures in the inset cartouches. In the Japanese Buddhist tradition it was not uncommon to purify the mind and body by standing beneath a waterfall—the most famous example of this in ukiyo-e would be Mongaku. However, it seems that this series also an advertisement to promote kimono, namely designs of takishima,瀧縞, stylized waterfalls as stripes. Kuniyoshi therefore depicts female figures who seem more like ordinary women than the perfected images of idealized courtesans. The ten women in this series all wear kimono with designs of takishima, stylized waterfalls as stripes, accompanied by a kyoka poem. The insets introduce related persons in history, mostly with waterfalls behind them. This is the first design in the series.
The ten waterfalls in this series are: 1.Otowa-no-taki 音羽の滝with kyooka poem Yamakaze 2. Nunobiki-no-taki 布引の滝with Taira-no-Kiyomori 3.Hakonesan Tamadare-no-taki箱根山玉簾の滝 4. Kikujidoo菊慈童 5. Hako-oo-maru箱王丸 6. Kyoyu許由 . 7. Kinkaku-ji金閣寺 8. Nachi-no-taki那智の滝 9. Narukami鳴神, 10. Kintaroo Koi-tsukami金太郎鯉つかみ. This is the fourth in the series.
Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Fold near left margin and tiny binding holes near right margin.
Dimensions: ôban (36.5 x 24.8 cm)
Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô
Literature: Robinson 1961, no. 111.4. The Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library has en example with a severe center fold;
Seal: kiri
Signature: Chô-ô-rô Kuniyoshi ga
SKU: KUY622