Eight Views from The Tale of Genji

Ishiyama Moroka

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Episodes from eight chapters of the classic of literature, The Tale of Genji, are depicted, although not in chronological order, in this handscroll. Each composition is combined with motifs from a scene derived from the venerable Chinese painting theme known as “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers.” “Eight Views” imagery, introduced to Japan during the thirteenth century, was assimilated into the Japanese ink landscape painting tradition. During the Edo period, some artists incorporated aspects of the theme into Genji illustrations. Moroka was a courtier as well as a painter and poet; his artistic training came from the Kyoto branch of the Kano school. In this early work, he restricted narrative elements to the far right side of each scene, allowing greater space for mist and abbreviated landscape elements set in otherwise empty silk. His handscroll may be the earliest extant example of Genji “Eight Views” painting.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art