Minneapolis Institute of Art

Kyokusui Poetry Party

Nakamura Nagaharu

Date

1810s

Medium

Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This print depicts a meandering stream party (kyokusui no en). In ancient China, parties were sometimes held along the banks of narrow streams. Cups filled with wine were floated down the stream. Participants were required to compose poems before the cups passed by. Those who failed to do so were required to drink a cup of wine. In this print, three people in the lower left are the guests. The man seated between the two women is hurriedly re-reading his poem as a small wine cup approaches. In the upper right, a young boy diligently places cups into the stream. The man seated next to him resembles Fukusuke, a big-headed doll that is associated with a good luck and a business success. Japan, Asia

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