Parody of Ariwara no Narihira's eastern journey
- Date:
- c. 1803
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print; oban, surimono
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
A surimono oban from around 1803 reimagines the famous episode from the Tales of Ise in which the Heian courtier Ariwara no Narihira journeys eastward — his travels having the structure of both exile and romantic quest. Hokusai's parody likely transposes the episode's figures and emotions into a contemporary Edo register, substituting familiar townspeople for the elegant Heian aristocrats of the original.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Parody of Ariwara no Narihira's eastern journey was created by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎) in c. 1803.
Parody of Ariwara no Narihira's eastern journey depicts travel scenes.