The Exile of Yukihira at Suma

The Exile of Yukihira at Suma

Kitagawa Utamaro

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Like his younger brother, Narihira, Yukihira came to be the hero of a romantic legend. By imperial edict, Yukihira was exiled from the capital to the lonely beach at Suma, which was famous as a beautiful spot for viewing the moon. There, the exiled courtier fell in love with Matsukaze and Murasame, two sisters who had fallen from their privileged position as daughters of the provincial governor because of the treachery of their cruel stepmother. On the beach at Suma, they were forced to live like peasants, carting and drying seawater to make salt. The depicts Yukihira's arrival with two attendants at the place of his exile. Still dressed in his court finery, he stands on the beach, gazing across the inlet at the thatched huts of the salt workers.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Exile of Yukihira at SumaThe Exile of Yukihira at SumaThe Exile of Yukihira at SumaThe Exile of Yukihira at SumaThe Exile of Yukihira at Suma

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.