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Subject:Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: Renato Sat, Apr 12, 2025 IP: 177.140.12.187
Hi Dear friends of the asian art forum

Here I am again trying to get better my poor cursive kanji readings.
There is a Nakatsukasa poem in this Utamaro ukiyoe=-e showing the Masaji courtesan playing a shamisen that is impossible to me to understand. I just stop trying to figure out something like:
真砂地 (masagochi) 君見れ (kimi mire) "Look at the sandy ground, my love", but it doesn't say something.

Anyone has any idea which poem is this?
Thank you in advance,
Renato



Subject:Re: Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: I.Nagy Sun, Apr 13, 2025
鶴屋内　　Tsuruya-nai
眞砂地　　Masaji
中勢　　　Chusei (Central region of Ise Province)

松風の吹くにつけても
とはぬかな
萩の葉ならは
音はしてまし

Matsukaze no fuku ni tsukete mo
towanuka na
ogi no ha naraba
oto wa shite mashi

If you entrusted it (letter) to the autum breeze,
and if I were an Ogi* leaf, I would have
at least heard the rustling (of leaves)

* Bush clovers

For technical reasons the alternative kanas are represented in their modern forms.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: RENATO Mon, Apr 14, 2025
Dear Nagy,

One more thing — sorry to take up your time. I just wanted to clarify my doubt about the difference between 萩 (hagi) and 荻 (ogi). I was familiar with bush clover (hagi), but I thought 荻 (ogi) appeared more frequently in art—at least, I’d heard it mentioned more often.

Congratulations on your translation! It’s truly impressive. On a related note, I’m proud to share that I’ve added a dozen more ukiyo-e prints to my collection. Asian art forum has been a significant part of my journey in Asian studies.

Best regards from Brazil,
Renato

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Subject:Re: Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: I.Nagy Mon, Apr 14, 2025
Wikipedia definition,
http://jaikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AE
The plant name ogi (荻) is more common in place names, e.g. Ogikubu (荻窪) in Tokyo's Suginami ward.

Regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: I.Nagy Sun, Apr 13, 2025
Correction,
After reading and sending the translation, I looked at the beginning again and realised that I had missread one character.
Not 中勢 but 中務 "Nakatsukasa" is the correct reading. This poem is from the Nakatsukasa Family
Anthology　家集2　中務集　(10th century)
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: RENATO Mon, Apr 14, 2025
Dear Nagy,

Your golden spirit of generosity is truly inspiring. I’m so glad to have met you—thank you for your kindness.

A warm hug from Brazil,
Renato

Subject:Re: Kitagawa Utamaro ukiyo-e inscriptions
Posted By: Stan Mon, Apr 14, 2025
The Boston MFA has a copy of the print and provides some miscellaneous information. See the link below.

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Poem by Nakatsukasa


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