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Description
The 10th century poetic anthology Tales of Ise contains several verses that reportedly describe the love life of Ariwara no Narihira (825-880). According to legend, this handsome poet and courtier eloped with Fujiwara no Koshi (842-910) who was already betrothed to Emperor Seiwa, and the young couple fled to the grassy plains of Musashi Province, where they were caught. In the top panel a courtier rides a spirited gray horse on a plain in front of a mountain. The horse wears a colorful harness of red fringe; the rider a hunting outfit known as a kariginu, the sleeves of which are attached only underneath the arms. Cords in the cuffs of the sleeves allow him to draw them closed; the tasseled end of one can be seen hanging below his right sleeve. His hakama or trousers are gathered at the ankle. His retainers are similarly dressed. Their hakama are gathered up around the knee for ease in walking. The lower panel depicts Ariwara and Fujiwara in the moments before capture. Fujiwara kneels amid the tall grass and Ariwara stands next to her holding her hand. They both look back at their torch-bearing pursuers. He wears an osode, a long full robe with large open sleeves. His hair has been plaited and tied up with a purple cord. Fujiwara wears a full sleeved red kimono with a blue obi tied in the front. She clutches a white cloth around her with her right hand. Her hair is undressed and falls down over her shoulders.
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