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This print is part of Yoshitoshi's famous series "100 Aspects of the Moon" which depicts scenes from traditional Chinese and Japanese history and lore. Kaga no chiyo (1703-1775) was a great female haiku poetess, most known for a haiku referencing a bucket, "A morning glory twined round my bucket - I ask for water". The overgrown bucket is a frequent subject in Japanese pictoral art. It is possible Yoshitoshi was attempting to connect to another poem, one by Adachi Chiyino, who was a zen abottess. Her poem reads, "I tried hard to save the old bucket as the bamboo hoop was weakening, and about to break. Until at last the bottom fell out. No more moon on the water".

Details

  • Title: Lady Chiyo and the Broken Water Bucket
  • Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
  • Date: 1889-11
  • Physical Location: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
  • Provenance: The prints in this series were given to Elizabeth Billings as a gift by Sho Nemoto.
  • Contributor: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, National Park Service
  • Catalog Number: MABI 9289v

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