Folding Screen with Design of the Scenes from The Tale of Genji － RIght

Pieces of paper showing 12 carefully selected scenes from The Tale of Genji are placed on the screens. All of them feature especially important scenes showing the first half of the life of Genji, such as his birth. The “carriage battle” refers to a story in which oxdrawn carriages of Genji’s wife, Lady Aoi no ue, and a mistress of Genji called Lady Rokujo no Miyasudokro competed for a place to watch Genji more closely at the Kamo festival. A panel, sixth from right on the right screen, also shows how their attendants competed. The sixth panel on the left screen features a scene where the teams of Genji and Gonchunagon present their picture scrolls in front of Emperor Reizei, who is to make a judgment. Reizei examines the “Suma” scroll by Genji at the center. All paintings on the screens boast deftly and carefully depicted people, plants, and interior room ornaments, making them worth being called a masterpiece of Sanraku’s last years.