Title: Sanjurokkasen Emakimono (Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry Picture Scroll), Circa 1800-1850. A Rather Charming Handscroll Edition of this Poetical work, with 36 Paintings of Poets and Calligraphy
Author: Hirata Fusaichi(?); Poetry Originally Compiled by Fujiwara no Kinto
Condition: Very Good
A Late Edo Period, early to mid 19th century emakimono, manuscript copy of the Sanjurokkasen, also more famously known as the Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry, in handscroll format.
Selected by Fujiwara no Kintō of the Heian Period, they are a group of Japanese poets of the Asuka, Nara, and Heian Periods as exemplars of Japanese poetic ability.
Since that, various editions of the Sanjurokkasen have been produced, from the Thirty-Six Female Immortals of Poetry, the New Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry, and even the Late Classical Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry, each with a unique selection of poets.
The scroll depicts a full series of all Thirty-Six Poets, each one colorfully painted and shaded quite nicely. Though not as detailed or illuminated as those earlier examples by the Tosa, Kano, or other schools, still a charming production.
The paintings have been laid down and bound in scroll format, with a partial brocade decorated cover, and there is a cardboard tube serving as a roller core.
One brocade bound emakimono (picture scroll) on washi paper, 18.5 x 670 cm
This emakimono is in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the decorated cover. There are a few creases and tiny tears at the beginning, and very little staining or soiling throughout.