Three Waka Poems
This work is a waka kaishi or “poetry sheet,” which records compositions from a poetry gathering. The three featured texts were written and inscribed by Jōben, a monk in the Tendai sect. Jōben was deemed one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Court Poetry (Waka shitennō) during his lifetime and went on to be celebrated for centuries. The last text on the sheet, titled “Praying for Love,” is a love poem:
あうまでと いのるこゝろ しるしありて
いつかは人を 三輪の神すぎ
It serves as a marker
that in my heart
I was praying for
the moment we might meet—
the cedar of Miwa Shrine.
あうまでと いのるこゝろ しるしありて
いつかは人を 三輪の神すぎ
It serves as a marker
that in my heart
I was praying for
the moment we might meet—
the cedar of Miwa Shrine.
Artwork Details
- 浄弁筆 咏和歌三首
- Title: Three Waka Poems
- Artist: Jōben (Japanese, died 1356)
- Period: Kamakura (1185–1333) or Nanbokuchō (1336–92) period
- Date: early 14th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Poetry sheet (waka kaishi) mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 11 3/4 × 19 5/16 in. (29.8 × 49.1 cm)
Overall with mounting: 46 1/16 × 24 5/16 in. (117 × 61.8 cm)
Overall with knobs: 46 1/16 × 26 5/16 in. (117 × 66.8 cm) - Classification: Calligraphy
- Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.583.4
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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