A book of fans
Subtitle: Ōgi no sōshi : fascimile of an illustrated collection of old Japanese poems
By: with essays by Helena Honcoopová, Joshua S. Mostow, Makoto Yasuhara ; English translation Joshua S. Mostow et al
Contributors: Národní muzeum v Praze
Publisher: Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Press
Published: 2016
Place of publication: Prague
Language: eng
Number of pages: 204
ISBN-13: 9788024625188
Subjects: Japanese Manuscripts; Waka; Japanese poetry; Japanese Fan painting
Other titles: Ōgi no sōshi
Description: The National Gallery in Prague has in its collection a unique Japanese illustrated manuscript of ogi no soshi, a genre of waka poems illustrated in fan-shaped pictures, which blossomed from the late Muromachi to the early Edo period. 'Book of fans', with 120 poems, is the largest such book extant in the world. This facsimile of an ancient illustrated manuscript of waka poetry reveals hitherto unknown aspects of Japanese traditional culture at the close of the sixteenth century, after the end of a century of destructive civil wars. The illustrated fans contain both classical waka poetry and poetry with close affinity to renga, haikai no renga, and Noh drama. The introductory text, from specialists on three continents, sheds new light on a literature and art that were instrumental in the renewal of the country in the Momoyama period. The literary quality of the translations and the beauty of the illustrations will be welcomed by both academic and general audiences around the world.