Minori　御法

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

A pictorial subject based on "The Rites" Minori (The Venerable Law), Chapter 40 of GENJI MONOGATARI 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji). This chapter revolves around the failing health and demise of Lady Murasaki, Murasaki no Ue 紫の上, Genji's principal wife. One scene often chosen for illustration shows a ceremony of sutra dedication, in which Murasaki, the *Akashi 明石 Lady, the Lady of the Orange Blossoms *Hanachirusato 花散里, and Prince Niou *Niou no miya 匂宮 watch a masked *bugaku 舞楽 performance of *Ryouou 陵王 under the blossoming cherry trees. Another scene depicts the final exchange of poems about the transient dew on the autumn bush clover hagi 萩 between Genji, the dying Murasaki, and her adopted daughter Empress Akashi Akashi no Chuuguu 明石中宮. The latter scene is included in a section of the earliest extant illustrated version of The Tale of Genji (12c) preserved in the Gotou 五島 Museum, Tokyo.

REFERENCES:

*genji-e 源氏絵

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NOTES:

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