Yosa Buson, Moon Viewing, from The Tale of Heike
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Sundry Purchase Fund, 1971.233 · The Cleveland Museum of Art, Open Access (CC0)View original →
Yosa Buson

Moon Viewing, from The Tale of Heike

1700s

Current Collection

Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Medium
hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper
Dimensions
157.5 × 28.6 cm
Status
In Museum Collection
Collect24 Art ID
C24-112003

Drawing from Japanese literature, Yosa Buson copied almost the entire text of the “Moon Viewing” episode from The Tale of the Heike, a story of the rise and fall of the Taira family. The two characters he painted were given nicknames based on 31-syllable waka poems they composed. Seen from behind at the top is Matsuyoi, or “Waiting at Nightfall,” while the person striding below is Mono ka wa Kurando, roughly equivalent to “‘It’s Nothing’ Chamberlain.”

Provenance

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Sundry Purchase Fund, 1971.233

Registry history

  • 1700s — Recorded in the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

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