Lady Chiyo and the Broken Water Bucket

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".