Need Help With Translation of PoeM & Artist's Name

[bond_fan]

Hi Nihonto Forum!

 

I was interested in buying this beautiful Japanese artwork, but the seller couldn't tell me the name of the artist or what the writing says. I believe it is a poem and was wondering if someone could please tell what what the poem says and who the the artist is?

 

Thanks!

Tim

 

California, USA

 

PS. I am sorry about the poor quality of one of the images.

 

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41/bond_fan/5579.jpg

 

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41/bond_fan/5582.jpg

[YukouYukimura]

Well that is a crazy looking woodblock print! The "poem" is written in grass script, or soushou style I think its called. The equivalent to english "cursive" Do you have a picture of the entire woodblock? I believe its modern, and I've never seen a stamp like that before on woodblocks. But that is about all I can tell you about this piece.

[bond_fan]

Thanks for your help!

 

I'd have to go back to the store and shoot more photos, so maybe this Tues. or Wed. when they are open?

[bond_fan]

Hi All!

 

This print is from the early to mid 19th century and I was told it is a Surimono, which was specially produced by poets and artists to be given at New Year's to friends.

 

Here's another fuller photo. If someone can translate the Japanese characters that would be helpful!

 

Thanks!

Tim

 

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41/bond_fan/print.jpg

[Guest Majestic]

Hello Tim,

I'll tell you what I know, but I'm afraid it will only lead to more questions.

The poem's name is Isuzukawa-jin.

 

Isuzukawa is the name of a river that leads up to Ise shrine in Mie prefecture, which is one of the most sacred shrines in Japan. So Isuzukawa-jin would be "man from Isuzukawa river". My guess is that this poem is a Kyoka (kind of comedic poem) but that is just a guess. I say this because there was a famous Kyoka poem about Isuzukawa, but I searched on the web and couldn't find anything specific to Isuzukawa-jin.

 

The characters in the red border at the top right are "Yonsei No Uchi" (四性ノ内）, then under that to the right is Senmi Mitsuteru (千味満照）and Fujimaki-kama (藤巻鎌）. Both of these names are an enigma to me, and searches for them turn up almost nothing. The "Yonsei No Uchi" is apparently the name of this particular series of surimono. If I had to make another guess I would say that Fujimaki-kama is the name of the artist of the print, but again, I don't really know. I could find nothing on Senmi Mitsuteru. If I google this, the only thing that turns up is a page indicating that prints from this series are on exhibit at the Netherlands Folk Museum.

 

The poem itself is illegible to me. Usually if you can pick out the name of the poem or the poet, you can find something on the net, but I can't find anything on this. The kanji in the middle of the piece 千羽亭 and 手雄　(?) I would have also hoped would provide some clues, but again I couldn't find anything. The only thing I could suggest if none of the above is helpful, would be to post a close up of the kanji in the bottom left corner. That might provide another clue.

 

Steve M

[bond_fan]

Steve,

 

Thanks for the assistance! I find sometimes in both Chinese and Japanese it is very tough getting translations on stuff, because the grammatical structure of both languages doesn't follow the same format as English. It sounds like it's pretty tough to know exactly what is meant based upon your thorough search. I really appreciate your help!

 

Any idea what this maybe worth?

 

Thanks!

Tim

[Guest Majestic]

Hello Tim,

I'm getting closer to unravelling this. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this is by Katsushika Hokusai and is one of a four-part series. It is a Surimono, and if I had to date it I would say 1822 (referenced from an art exhibition catalogue where another of this series was displayed).

 

Pricing it is a bit out of my league. Will look around further. Any chance you can take a pic of the lower left corner?

 

Steve M

[Nobody]

I do not have much to offer, as I basically cannot read Sosho.

All I can guess are as follows;

 

I think that 五十鈴川人 is a poet’s art name and it reads Isuzu Kawato (or Kawahito). Of course, the name must be punned on Isuzugawa (五十鈴川; river Isuzu).

Also 千羽亭 手踊(?) is a poet’s art name, which may read Senbatei Teodori.

 

籐巻鎌 (maybe Tomaki-gama = rattan wrapped sickle) in the red border might indicate the sickle whose handle is wrapped with rattan in the picture.

[Guest Majestic]

Yes! Tomaki-gama - I didn't even notice the wrapped sickle in the picture. That's it... getting really close now.

Steve M

[bond_fan]

Kenkaku & Steve,

 

Thanks for your further insight!

 

Tim

[SteveM]

Hello Tim,

Did a bit more searching around. The series is called "Four Clans of Japan" (Shisei No Uchi). I still don't know anything about the poem - other than the bits and pieces above. I did see a copy of this same piece available at the following site (GBP 180), which may help decide whether or not the piece you were looking at was fairly priced. The site below lists the print as "after Hokusai", but I looked at two Hokusai catalogues today and they both said that this series is indeed by Hokusai - the signature is in the bottom left, and is an alternative name used by Hokusai during this period in his life (just before he started printing the famous "Views of Mt. Fuji" series).

 

http://www.degener.com/surimono.htm

 

SteveM

[Nobody]

...... The series is called "Four Clans of Japan" (Shisei No Uchi). ......

I think that it is mistranslation on the referred site. Shisei with that meaning must be written as 四姓 while Shisei in the picture is written as 四性. I do not know its exact translation, but I think is must be something like four elements or four parts.

[John A Stuart]

I get 性 (sei) as nature. Not nature as in the outdoors sense, but, as in the nature of man or the nature of things, perhaps more like characteristic. The 'four characteristics' ?. It can mean sex, however four sexes makes no sense. Does that help or make it worse? John

[John A Stuart]

I don't know for sure, but, would that mean "Shisei no Uchi" means "The Four Characters of Home" or "The Four Characteristics of Home" ? The print shows a table (woodworking, craft work), cloth (weaving), sickle (farming), and holy relics (tama) (religious faith) as the four cornerstones of life ? John

[Nobody]

The usage of that Uchi just means "of".

[John A Stuart]

Oh! Thanks. John

[SteveM]

I don't know how that series came to be called "Four Clans" in English, but since this is how the art world is referring to the set I think I can live with it. In addition to the two catalogues I was looking at yesterday, the "Four Clans" appellation can also be seen on a number of websites like the one I linked to above, as well as http://www.merlindailey.com/GalleryPages/Surimono.htm, and http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/katsushika-hokusai-1760-1849-ojeb8v9x9u-112-m-80dy7s8zav.

 

I just wish I could find something that talks about the poem in the picture.

 

SteveM

[bond_fan]

Hey guys,

 

Thanks for all the additional information! I don't know how you guys find out this information, but you are all very good!

 

Hey, supposedly they have a similar artwork with a katana being the main focus. I hope to get an image of that soon.

 

Best regards!

Tim

[Nobody]

I was wrong. I found that Shisei in this case means four clans as Steve said.

The four clans are Minamoto (源), Taira (平), Fujiwara (藤原), and Tachibana (橘). Each print of this series represents one of the clans with its motif which may be connected to each clan.

 

Ref. A list on an exhibit at the Netherlands Folk Museum (see No.179 – No.182)

http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/kikak ... ailist.pdf

179. Tachibana (橘)

180. Taira (平)

181. Fujiwara (藤原)

182. Minamoto (源)