Nine Scenes from the Tale of Genji

Tawaraya Sōtatsu

early 17th century

Eight-panel folding screen, ink, color, silver, gold, and gold foil on paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This screen shows nine scenes from consecutive chapters from the <I>Tale of Genji </I> in order from right to left. The far right panel depicts Genji sitting behind a writing desk and gazing out toward a setting sun. It is a specific moment from chapter 19 in which Genji, mourning the death of his lover, recites the following poem: “A rack of cloud across the light of evening, as if they, too, wore mourning weeds.” Moving left, each panel of the screen depicts a single scene from chapters 20 through 25. The far left panel actually includes two scenes from chapter 26, in which Genji first tries to seduce a young woman and then is rej