Page 27 - Bonhams Royal Collection Fine Japanese Art London Nov. 2019

[7.5] [7.9]
Fifth Month Ninth Month
五月 菖蒲 九月 嵐山紅葉
A rustic hut with a flowering stem of iris thrust into its thatched roof, a Autumn foliage in Arashiyama, Kyoto; in the foreground the Togetsukyō
water buffalo visible through the hut’s window; signed Zeshin 是真 with Bridge across the Ōi River; signed Zeshin 是真 with seal Zeshin 是真
seal Shin 真
With paper wrapper inscribed Kugatsu Arashiyama momiji (Ninth
With paper wrapper inscribed Gogatsu ayame (Fifth month, iris) month, autumn foliage at Arashiyama)

The fifth-month custom of putting stems of ayame (iris) on the roofs The Arashiyama district in western Kyoto is one of Japan’s most
of houses was recorded around 1330 by priest Yoshida Kenkō in his popular spots for the appreciation of autumn colours. Although
great collection of essays Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness): ‘In the Zeshin was very much an Edokko, a proud native of Edo/Tokyo, his
fifth month, when iris leaves are scattered on the roofs and young rice occasional choice of motifs from Kyoto reflects his two-year stay in
planted, the cry of the waterfowl is full of melancholy.’ (Yoshida 2009, Japan’s ancient capital when he was in his twenties.
p. 10). Zeshin loved to depict somewhat dilapidated rustic buildings;
for another example see lot 25 in the present catalogue. [7.10]
Tenth Month
[7.6] 十月 えびす
Sixth Month The deity Ebisu with bamboo rod and bream; signed Zeshin 是真 with
六月 富士 seal Take 竹
A group of pilgrims ascending Mount Fuji; signed Zeshin 是真 with seal
Shin 真 With paper wrapper inscribed Jūgatsu Ebisu (Tenth month, Ebisu)

With paper wrapper inscribed Rokugatsu Fuji (Sixth month, Fuji) The tenth month in the lunar calendar was also known as Kaminazuki
(Godless Month) because all Japan’s deities were summoned to the
The sixth month marked the traditional opening of the mountaineering Grand Shrine at Izumo, with the exception of the deaf Ebisu, one of
season. For other tanzaku by Zeshin with a similar design, see Earle the Seven Gods of Good Fortune and a guardian deity of fishermen.
and Gōke 1996, cat. no. 100.6 and Gōke 1981b, pl. 290. Zeshin Special celebrations, including offerings of tai (bream), were therefore
himself climbed Japan’s most famous peak in 1872 and composed a held in his honour.
haiku to mark the event (Gōke 1974, p. 45):
[7.11]
Fuji orite / ashi ni hōbi ya / nadesasuri Eleventh Month
十一月 神楽面
Down from Mount Fuji / though my poor feet need a prize / a rub’s all Kagura masks; signed Zeshin 是真 with seal Reisai 令哉
they’ll get!
With paper wrapper inscribed Jūichigatsu kaguramen (Eleventh month,
[7.7] kagura masks)
Seventh Month
七月 踊り During the eleventh month, rustic festivals featuring dancers wearing
A night scene: four dancers of different social classes, with mask, kagura masks were held throughout Japan; one surviving example is a
lantern, drum, and fans, accompanied by a dog; signed Zeshin 是真 night festival held at Takachiho in Miyagi Prefecture. Another example
with seal Zeshin 是真 of this eleventh-month design, with the title Sato kagura (Village
Kagura), was included in a catalogue of works by Zeshin edited by his
With paper wrapper inscribed Shichigatsu odori (Seventh month, son in 1912 (Shibata 1912, unpaginated).
dance)
[7.12]
The design alludes to the Bon-odori dance festival held in the middle of Twelfth Month
the seventh lunar month on the artificial island of Tsukudajima in Edo/ 十二月 年の市
Tokyo Bay. Dating back to the Great Fire of 1657, the festival is the A wood bucket containing a rope and leaves, a sprig of fern resting on
oldest such event in the Tokyo region. its side; signed Shin 真 on the side of the bucket

[7.8] With paper wrapper inscribed Jūnigatsu toshi no ichi (Twelfth month,
Eighth Month year-end fair)
八月 秋草
Autumn plants against the full moon: susuki (plume grass), fujibakama The word toshi no ichi (year-end fair) on the paper wrapper offer a
(‘purple trousers’ or thoroughwort), nadeshiko (fringed pink), and kuzu key to the significance of this design. Held in several parts of Edo/
(creeper); signed Zeshin 是真 with seal Shin 真 Tokyo toward the end of the twelfth month, toshi no ichi fairs were an
opportunity to purchase all the decorations needed for the New Year
With paper wrapper inscribed Hachigatsu akikusa (Eighth month, festivities, including shimekazari (sacred ropes) and wakamizu-oke
autumn plants) (buckets for the first water drawn on the morning of New Year’s Day).
Zeshin playfully includes his signature in the design.
Although Zeshin’s choice of motif varies for most other times of year, in
the case of the eighth month he almost invariably included a depiction
of the full moon, which was considered at its best in the early autumn,
often in combination with autumn plants, especially susuki.

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