Page 77 - Sothebys Fine Japanese Art London, November 2018
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           TANOMURA CHOKUNYU (1814-         In the 14  year of Meiji, the year being xinshi,   Tanomura Chokunyū (1814-1907) was born
                                                  th
           1907) A PAIR OF SIX-FOLD         the eleventh month, I painted this and inscribed   in Takeda Village, Bungo province. He was
           PAINTED SCREENS                  it in a spot cool in summer  and warm in winter.   the adopted son of the reknowned literatus
           MEIJI PERIOD, 1881               Mountain Woodsman, Chokunyū”.     Tanomura Chikuden (1777-1835). As well as
                                            The poem on the bottom screen reads:  becoming a Nanga artist Chokunyū studied
           田能村直入(1814 – 1907)、屏風 六曲一双、                                        Chinese Neo-Confucianism and Zen practices,
           江戸時代、1881年                       “All by myself, calmly chanting a poem about   poetry, tea ceremony and swordsmanship. In
                                            moon in the pines,                1880 he helped establish the Kyoto Municipal
           sumi on gold paper, signed and sealed  When—the Heavenly Dragon with pure voice emits   School of Fine Arts and Crafts and in 1896 the
           (2)                              the noblest music!                Japan Nanga Society (Nihon Nanga Kyokai), an
           each panel: 62 x 175 cm, 24⅖ x 69 in.  My sense of hearing purified, my stainless heart   organisation that aimed to preserve Japan’s
           The poem on the top screen reads:  washed clean,                   literati painting tradition.
                                            Yours is immortal music, sir, the zither of
           “Beside the River Hsiang in this dusty realm, there   wondrous song!  A single screen in similar style by the artist is
           I wish to hang my gourd!                                   th      in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts,
           Here, by chance, encounter each other these   In the eleventh month of the year, the 14   of the   Boston, accession number 11.4652, go to:
           sages from the past.             Meiji Period [1881], I painted and inscribed this in   https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/
           Beside the stream, for half the day they discuss   the eastern chamber of the mountain home of the   landscapes-25071
           the Prajñā wisdom:               Man of Tao, “Tiger,” of Matsunishi  [i.e., himself,   £ 15,000-20,000
           Utterances of birds, gurgling of the stream — all   (Little) Tiger being a childhood nickname of his
           possess the Heart of Tao.        which he continued to use], Ten Chi of the Brilliant   € 16,900-22,600   US$ 19,800-26,400
                                            Studio”.

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