Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

About this Work

This print is part of a set of eight on the theme of the Four Treasures of the Writing Chamber. The set includes two prints for each treasure: ink, ink stone, paper, and brush. This image refers to a highlight from a popular Noh play recounting the tale of a poetry competition in which the poet Ono no Komachi is discredited by a competitor, Ōtomo no Kuronushi, who steals her poem and writes it in an ancient book of poetry. When Komachi reads her poem during the competition, Ōtomo accuses her of plagiarism. However, Komachi’s reputation is restored when she dips the page in a basin of water, washing away the still wet ink.

Poem:

Scented by the plum blossoms
Reflected in the water
The ripples splash over
The book being washed
—Kagakutei Kōbun

Although he cannot use words
The warbler
Reveals his song
In the waters that run
Beneath the scented plum
—Karindō