The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙

The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙

Unidentified artist

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The idea of the Thirty-six Poetic Immortals dates back to the early eleventh century. In the early seventeenth century, woodblock printing spurred the dissemination of classical literature and imagery. Although traditionally attributed to the renowned calligrapher and painter Hon’ami Kōetsu (1558–1637), the handwriting here is in a generic style reflecting calligraphy conventions of the day.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙The “Kōetsu Version” of Waka Poems of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (Kōetsu-bon Waka Sanjūrokkasen) 和歌三十歌仙

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.