Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

Date
early 1900s
Medium
Lacquered wood with gold and silver sprinkled powder (maki-e), foil application (kirikane), and metal inlay
Culture
Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Japanese Art
Institution
Cleveland Museum of Art

The design of this box was inspired by an object in the 1639 lacquer wedding set of Chiyohime, the daughter of the shogun (ruler). Information about the set became available in the Meiji period, leading some lacquer artists to emulate its designs. This box features a scene from the chapter “First Song” (Hatsune) of the Tale of Genji, in which Prince Genji and his love Murasaki enjoy her garden. It incorporates the written characters for “first” (初, hatsu ) and “sound” (音, ne ), indicating the first song of the warbler in spring, associated with the new year—the water dropper for mixing the ink is in the shape of this bird.

View at Cleveland Museum of Art ↗

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.

Related across collections

Semantically similar works from Cleveland Museum of Art and other institutions.

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji (lid)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji (lid)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing box (suzuribako)

Writing box (suzuribako)

Minneapolis Institute of Art

First Warbler from Album of Illustrations for the Tale of Genji

First Warbler from Album of Illustrations for the Tale of Genji

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing box with bridge and waves

Writing box with bridge and waves

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Design of Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo (base)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Design of Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo (base)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Flowers, Moon, and Genji, vol. 1

Flowers, Moon, and Genji, vol. 1

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Flowers, Moon, and Genji, vol. 2

Flowers, Moon, and Genji, vol. 2

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Flowers, Moon, and Genji, vol. 3

Flowers, Moon, and Genji, vol. 3

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Accessories box with scenes from The Tale of Genji

Accessories box with scenes from The Tale of Genji

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Base of Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Chrysanthemum and Plum Containing Inkstone, Water-dropper, Brushes, Ink-stick Holder, and Paper Knife

Base of Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Chrysanthemum and Plum Containing Inkstone, Water-dropper, Brushes, Ink-stick Holder, and Paper Knife

Cleveland Museum of Art

Portion of Text from the "Wisps of Cloud" (Usugumo) Chapter of The Tale of Genji

Portion of Text from the "Wisps of Cloud" (Usugumo) Chapter of The Tale of Genji

Cleveland Museum of Art