Selections from the exhibits, depicting some of these elegant representations of birds and bards, are featured here.
The Edo period (Edo was the former name of today’s Tokyo) was remarkably peaceful and stable.
Japan was largely closed off to the rest of the world during this period. Though isolated, the country was still able to foster local cultures and take advantage of the new printing technologies. Everything from poetry to popular literature was printed and circulated and artists, in turn, incorporated themes of the day into their works.
One scene (below) referenced the well-known Tale of Genji, the 11th-century novel by lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu. The story follows an emperor’s son and his romantic life after he is given “commoner status” for political reasons.
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| Rooster, Hen and Chicks Hanging scroll by Kishi Ganku, late 18th, early 19th century. Courtesy of the Freer Gallery |
