About the Ikegami Kaikan Visiting Exhibition Tsuneko Kumagai Kana Beauty Exhibition “The Splendid World of the Tale of Genji Expressed by Tsuneko Kumagai”

Ikegami Kaikan Visiting Exhibition Tsuneko Kumagai Kana Beauty Exhibition “The Splendid World of the Tale of Genji Expressed by Tsuneko Kumagai”

Date: February 2024th (Sat) - March 5rd (Sun), 18

Introduction of exhibition contents

　Tsuneko Kumagai Memorial Museum will be holding a traveling exhibition at Ikegami Kaikan due to the closure of the facility for renovation work. We look back at the calligraphy work of calligrapher Tsuneko Kumagai (1893-1986) and introduce the charm of her kana calligraphy. As Tsuneko says, ``Kana is the national character of Japan,'' kana calligraphy is a calligraphy that was developed in Japan by breaking down kanji that was introduced from China. Kana calligraphy, which was established during the Heian period, was attracting attention again in the early Showa period, and Tsuneko became enthusiastic, saying, ``I must learn the kana of the Heian period.''

　This exhibition will feature works such as "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu, who served Chugu Shoshi (Empress Ichijo's empress) during the Heian period, "Sekido-bon Kokin Wakashu", which is said to have been written by Fujiwara Yukinari (Emperor Ichijo's head of Kurado), We will introduce Tsuneko's works based on the ``Shin Kokin Wakashu'', which was compiled by Fujiwara Teika (Gon Chunagon of Emperor Go-Toba), who produced the manuscript of ``The Tale of Genji.''

　In addition to ``Umegae (The Tale of Genji)'' (circa 1941), which he completed as a notebook, he also wrote ``Omaheniitototo (The Tale of Genji)'', which is a poem about loneliness in Sumanoura, Hyogo, where the main character, Hikaru Genji, retired. Along with representative works in our museum's collection, Tsuneko's works include the waka poem ``Karagi (Shinkokin Wakashu)'' (year of production unknown), which was exchanged between Fujiwara no Michinaga (father of Chugu Akiko) and his eldest daughter Akiko, who became a priest (1968), and the eldest daughter Akiko. We will exhibit beautiful calligraphy.

○About books such as “The Tale of Genji”

　In The Tale of Genji, in which Hikaru Genji said, ``In the past, the world was becoming weaker and shallower, but the current world is extremely unique.'' Tsuneko says, ``The Tale of Genji Umeeda In the volume, he mentions that Kana calli was flourishing at the time, saying, ``Using the words of Genji no Kimi, Murasaki Shikibu also describes his prosperity.'' Tsuneko, who respected the calligraphy of ``The Tale of Genji Emaki'' and ``Murasaki Shikibu Diary Emaki'', worked hard to improve kana calligraphy.

 

　*The Tale of Genji Emaki is the oldest existing picture scroll created based on the Tale of Genji. Fujiwara Takayoshi (Emperor Konoe's illustrator) is said to have been the artist, and is known as ``Takayoshi Genji.'' Tsuneko said of ``Takano Genji'', ``He is able to push himself at the end of the momentum. When it comes to writing scrolls, that unreasonableness makes it very interesting, and Takayo Genji has mastered that aspect.'' I am evaluating it.

 

○Seal impression of Tsuneko Kumagai

　The Tsuneko Kumagai Memorial Museum has a collection of about 28 of Tsuneko's personal seals. There are seals engraved by Suiseki Takahata (1879-1957) and Kozo Yasuda (1908-1985), who were seal carvers with Tsuneko, and the seals are stamped to match the size of the work or calligraphy. Tsuneko was particular about the typeface and placement of her seals, which she described as ``seals that are used depending on the situation, depending on the size of the paper and the size of the font.'' I would like to introduce the relationship between Tsuneko's calligraphy and seals.

*Due to the aging of the facility, the Tsuneko Kumagai Memorial Museum will be closed from October 2021, 10 (Friday) to September 15, 2024 (Monday) for investigation and renovation work.

 

Ikegami Kaikan Visiting Exhibition Tsuneko Kumagai Kana Beauty Exhibition “The Splendid World of the Tale of Genji Expressed by Tsuneko Kumagai”

• Press release (PDF)

• Flyer (PDF)

Exhibition information

[In order to ensure a safe visit, we ask for your continued cooperation in the following ways. ]

*Please wear a mask as much as possible.

*If you are not feeling well, please refrain from visiting the museum.

Session	2024/5/18 (Saturday) to 5/26 (Sunday)
opening time	9:00-16:30 (Admission until 16:00)
Museum Holidays	Open all day
Admission fee	Free
Gallery talk	I will explain the contents of the exhibition. May 2024th (Sunday), May 5th (Saturday), May 19th (Sunday), 5 11:00 and 13:00 every day Advance application required for each session For applications and inquiries, please call (TEL: 03-3772-0680 Ota City Ryuko Memorial Hall).
Venue	Ikegami Kaikan 1st floor exhibition hall (1-32-8 Ikegami, Ota-ku) Get off at Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line and walk for 10 minutes. Take the JR Omori Station West Exit Tokyu Bus bound for Ikegami, get off at Honmonji-mae, and walk 7 minutes.