Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges) after 1709 Ogata Kōrin Japanese The stately, vertical forms of irises set against an angular bridge that sweeps diagonally across both screens refer to an episode in The Ise Stories (Ise monogatari). Exiled from Kyoto after an affair with a high-ranking court lady, the story’s protagonist stops at Yatsuhashi, a place where a stream branches into eight channels, each with its own bridge. The sight of irises prompts him to compose a nostalgic love poem. The first syllable of each line forms the Japanese word for irises (kakitsubata). The English translation,
Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges) after 1709 Ogata Kōrin Japanese The stately, vertical forms of irises set against an angular bridge that sweeps diagonally across both screens refer to an episode in The Ise Stories (Ise monogatari). Exiled from Kyoto after an affair with a high-ranking court lady, the story’s protagonist stops at Yatsuhashi, a place where a stream branches into eight channels, each with its own bridge. The sight of irises prompts him to compose a nostalgic love poem. The first syllable of each line forms the Japanese word for irises (kakitsubata). The English translation, though unable to convey the complex wordplay of the original, is also an acrostic:Karagoromo kitsutsu narenishi tsuma shi areba harubaru kinuru tabi o shi zo omouI wear robes with well-worn hems,Reminding me of my dear wifeI fondly think of always,So as my sojourn stretches on Ever farther from home,Sadness fills my thoughts. —Trans. John T. Carpenter Listen to experts illuminate this artwork's story Listen Play or pause #8885. Eight Bridges (Yatsuhashi) Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. We are working to make it available as soon as Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges) 39664
Size: 2000px × 970px
Photo credit: © MET/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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