SIX JAPANESE VOTIVE PAINTINGS

SIX JAPANESE VOTIVE PAINTINGS, EMA

EDO PERIOD OR LATER, 17TH CENTURY OR LATER

Each in ink and colour with sprinkled gold on a square cryptomeria wood board, sugi, depicting individual portraits of famous poets from the Heian period (794-1185), each with a waka poem above, five in a mountainous landscape and the sixth with three chidori (plovers) flying above him, each panel 41.5cm x 42cm approx. (6)

Provenance: A private English collection, acquired in London in the 1980s.

These panels probably depict six of the 'Thirty-six Immortal Poets' of the Sanjurokkasen, a group of celebrated artists from the Heian Period. This list was compiled by the courtier Fujiwara no Kinto (996-1041) and celebrated the most famous waka poets of the time. These portraits of the poets, seated with their most famous verses above them, are known as Kasen-e and they were produced in large numbers as woodblock prints in the 12th century. See the British Museum, access. n. 1979,0305,0.3 for an album of woodblock prints by Tosa Mitsushige and Hon'ami Koetsu with similar depictions of the poets.

This type of Ema votive paintings was very popular during the Kamakura Period (1185-1334) and Muromachi Period (1392-1568). Not many examples remain as they were usually displayed outdoors, exposed to the elements. They are still commonly used today to celebrate famous historical or legendary figures at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. The poet Sugiwara no Michizane (845-903) in particular is closely connected to the concepts of scholarship and exam success and Ema with his portrait are still highly popular nowadays and can be seen in places such as the Tenmangu Shrine in Tokyo. The shrine also has a large display wall, the ema-sho, where a whole series of portraits of the Thirty-six Immortal Poets is on show.