Image / Letter with poem for Kitō

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Title: Letter with poem for Kitō
Creator: Yosa, Buson, 1716-1784
Date Created and/or Issued: 1774
Publication Information: Japan
Contributing Institution: UC Merced, Library and Special Collections
Collection: Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture collection
Rights Information: Public Domain
Material in public domain. No restrictions on use.
Description: Funding: Digitization funded by an Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Leadership Grant (LG 30-02-0260-02) awarded to the University of California, Merced Library.
Type: image
Format: 1 hanging scroll, 16 x 68 cm. Signed "夜半" (Yahan) at lower left edge. No seals. Inscribed, "I have read the 'sho kaishi' [kaishi of the New Year]; it is really interesting. I have nothing more to say but to offer you my congratulations. However, the poem about the wild mouse has a loss of meaning in the first part due to the emphasis upon 'scratching its face.' It is not like a pheasant scratching its face, and so it is disappointing. This poem could have been a good one, but you have tried for too much and therefore the feeling was lost. / This winter I have been suffering from illness due to my old age. It is difficult to think of ideas for poems and so I have not been writing poetry at all. However, I am not so ill as to have thoughts of death. Now I am sick in bed as I receive your letter. While rubbing my eyes which have become dim with age, I am answering hurriedly since you have requested an immediate response. I'll talk more with you when I see you, —the 17th day, Yahan / p.s. My foolish poem on the printed sheet of Kitano looks quite appropriate; the block copy has come out in an interesting way, in fact it is unprecedented." (trans. Stephen Addiss) ink on paper
Form/Genre: hanging scrolls
letters (correspondence)
Middle Edo
Nanga
Identifier: ark:/13030/hb9x0nc05h
ucm_li_AS050
Language: Japanese
jpn
Subject: New Year
Poetry

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