'The Poetry of Nature' Features Japanese Arts from Fishbein-Bender Collection

choi

Will Heinrich, 'The Poetry of Nature.' In the Sunday column 'The Week Ahead; A survey of the cultural landscape.'  New York Times, Jan 6, 2019.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/ ... otype-festival.html

text in toto:

"Between the Battle of Sekigahara 関ヶ原の戦い in 1600 and the 1868 Meiji Restoration, Japan was unified and at peace under the Tokugawa Shogunate 徳川幕府. Popular arts flourished, and, though the country was officially closed for most of the period, foreign influences did trickle in.

" 'The Poetry of Nature: Edo Paintings from the Fishbein-Bender Collection,' which you can catch for just a few more weeks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers two ink paintings by Mori Sosen that are inflected with Western anatomical realism to mesmerizing effect. Ghostly black and white feathers in 'Silkies' make seven chickens look as if they're trembling, and the evanescent 'Stag Amidst Autumn Flowers' is a delicate creature pinned in place by pointy leaves. WILL HEINRICH

Note:
(a) There is no need to read the review, because the NYT review carries in addition a photo of the painting, which is (e) below,
(b) MORI Sosen  森 狙仙
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mori_Sosen
(1747 – 1821)

(c) inflect (v):
"1 : to turn from a direct line or course : CURVE
* * *
4 : to affect or alter noticeably : INFLUENCE  <an approach inflected by feminism>"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflect

For definition 1, see inflection point
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflection_point

(d) "Ghostly black and white feathers in 'Silkies' make seven chickens look as if they're trembling"
(i)
(A) Silkie or Silky (chicken)  乌骨鸡
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/烏骨雞
(or 竹丝鸡（Silky fowl）, 发源地在中国江西泰和武山北岩汪陂村)
(B) is "named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four. * * * Silkie plumage was once unique among chicken breeds, however in recent years silkie feathering has been developed in several breeds, mostly notably the Chabo, where it is now standardised in Britain and the Netherlands. * * *  The overall result  [of these mutant chicken breeds] is a soft, fluffy appearance. Their feathers lack functioning barbicels, and are thus similar to down on other birds. This characteristic leaves Silkies unable to fly."  en.wikipedia.org for "Silkie" (citations omitted).
(iii) 森狙仙筆　烏骨鶏図 Silkies (Ukokkei). The Met, undated
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/78227
([painting] Date:before 1807; Credit Lineent by Fishbein-Bender Collection)

The u, koku and kei are Chinese pronunciations for kanji 烏, 骨 and 鶏, respective
(e) 森祖仙筆 秋草に鹿図 Stag amid Autumn Flowers. The Met, undated
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/77190
(Date:before 1807; Credit Line: Fishbein-Bender Collection, Promised Gift of T Richard Fishbein and Estelle P Bender)

(f)
(i) T Richard Fishbein (1938-2014; wife Dr Estelle Bender; held an AB from Dartmouth College, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Diploma from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University in Bologna, Italy; was a partner (retired) of Cortec Group [1984- ; based on Manhattan], a private equity investment firm)  from various sources of the Web.
(ii) Fishbein is Americanized German surname Fischbein (which in German means whalebone). Dictionary of American Family Names.

German-English dictionary:
* Bein (noun neuter): "(archaic) bone"
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bein

choi

The NYT review is about
The Poetry of Nature: Edo Paintings from the Fishbein-Bender Collection. Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Feb 27, 2018 - Jan 21, 2019
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibi ... 18/poetry-of-nature

Note: This Web page in addition shows the following paintings:
(a) "(top) Traditionally attributed to Sesshū Tōyō (1420-1506). Mount Fuji and Seikenji Temple. Early 16th century."
(i) H Byron Earhart, Mount Fuji; Icon of Japan. University of South Carolina Press, 2011, page number not shown
https://books.google.com/books?i ... g=PT37&dq=Sesshū+Tōyō+Mount+Fuji+and+Seikenji+Temple&source=bl&ots=_zF-d_2s-I&sig=D_bpbFnZWQ7mZUSorovXw5VU04Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx4tH02uvfAhUDhOAKHZxFBVsQ6AEwCXoECAQQAQ#v=onepage&q=Sesshū%20Tōyō%20Mount%20Fuji%20and%20Seikenji%20Temple&f=false
("This ink and paper scroll (suinoku-ga), Mt Fuji and Seiken Temple, once attributed to Sesshū Tōyō but probably a copy of his work, incorporates Chinese influences in a depiction of the triple-domed peak within a misty, mystical setting. Reprinted with permission of Eisei Bunko Museum")
(A) suinokuga 水墨画 (English: India or Indian ink painting). The su-i, boku and ga are Chinese pronunciations of kanji 水, 墨 and 画, respectively.
(B) India ink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_ink
(British English: Indian Ink; was first invented in China)

The www.merriam-webster.com for "india ink" says "First Known Use of india ink 1665." (Yes, both "i" in "inida" is lowercase.)
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/india%20ink

Indian ink (n): "(North American India ink)"
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/indian_ink
(ii) 伝雪舟筆「富士三保清見寺図」の修復が完成しました. 永青文庫, Jan 13, 2004
www.eiseibunko.com/topics_2004/0113.html
("伝雪舟筆「富士三保清見寺図」（縦43.2cm、横101.8cm・図１）は、富士と三保松原、古名刹として有名な清見寺を中心とした景観を、横長の画面に描いた水墨画です")
(A) Eisei Bunko Museum  永青文庫
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisei_Bunko_Museum
(meaning: Eisei Archive; private property of Hosokawa clan 細川 家 [細川護煕 Morihiro HOSOKAWA (1938- ; prime minister 1993-1994) is its 18代当主] of then Higo province 肥後国 (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture).

The museum website says it "was authorized as a public interest incorporated foundation in December 2009), and that  "文庫名の「永青」は細川家の菩提寺である永源庵（建仁寺塔頭、現在は正伝永源院）の「永」と、細川藤孝の居城・青龍寺城の「青」から採られている."  my rough translation: The Eisei name is a portmanteau of 永源庵 (細川家の菩提寺) and 青龍寺城 (細川藤孝 [1534-1610] の居城).

The ja.wikipedia.org for says museum headquarters is in Tokyo, with a branch in  熊本県立美術館 (located inside 熊本城).

青龍寺城 is another (and minor) name 別名 for 勝龍寺城  Shōryūji Castle.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shōryūji_Castle
The ja.wikipedia.org for 勝竜寺城 says "現在の京都府長岡京市勝竜寺に所在した * * * 城名は付近の同名古刹（勝龍寺）に由来する."  (my rough translation: is located at 京都府長岡京市. its name is derived from neighbring )

Japanese-English dictionary:
* bo-da-i-ji 菩提寺 【ぼだいじ】 (n): "one's family temple; temple with one's family grave"
   ^ bo-da-i 菩提 【ぼだい】 (n): "(1) {Buddh} bodhi; enlightenment; (2) {Buddh} happiness in the next world"
   ^ bo-da-i-ju 菩提樹 【ぼだいじゅ】 (n): "Tilia miqueliana (species of linden tree)"  (In fact, in Japanese 菩提樹 may be either Tilia miqueliana or Ficus religiosa --two different trees. Only under the latter was the Buddha enlightened. Hence the latter in English is Bo (short for bodhi) tree. The English noun Buddha ("the enlightened one") and bodhi are related.)
   ^ bo-da-i-shin 菩提心 【ぼだいしん】 (n)" "aspiration for Buddhahood"

The en.wikipedia.org for "Enlightenment in Buddhism" says "The English term enlightenment is the western translation of the abstract noun bodhi (/ˈboʊdi/)."

(B) Miho no Matsubara  三保の松原
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_no_Matsubara
(on the Miho Peninsula 三保半島 in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture 静岡県静岡市)
(C) There is no English Wiki page for the temple.

清見寺  Seiken Ji
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/清見寺
(in 静岡市; 臨済宗; "寺伝では奈良時代の創建と伝える。鎌倉時代に禅寺として復興し [my translation: Per temple books, it was said to be founded in Nara Period, and reinvigorated as Zeb Buddhist temple during Kamakura Period]")
(iii) SESSHŪ Tōyō  雪舟 等楊
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesshū_Tōyō )
(1420 – 1506; was born into the samurai Oda family 小田家 [hence birth name 小田 等楊] )

The  ja.wikipedia.org says "雪舟」は号."

(b) "(below) Yano Sessō (1714-1777). Mount Fuji and Seikenji Temple. 1774. Yatsushiro Municipal Museum. Kumamoto."
(i) Yatsushiro, Kumamoto  熊本県 八代市 (note: The capital of 熊本県 is 熊本市.)
(ii) 矢野 雪叟, 富士清見寺図. 八代市立博物館, undated
http://www.city.yatsushiro.kumam ... =%95%78%8E%6D%90%B4
(制作年        安永3年（1774）; 作家・作品解説: "肥後藩主細川家に伝来する雪舟作と伝える富士清見寺図（ふじせいけんじず・永青文庫所蔵）を、忠実に模写した作品です。筆者矢野雪叟（やのせっそう）[surname: Yano 矢野] は、肥後藩の御用絵師を勤めた矢野派の画家 * * * ")

(c) 酒井抱一筆 楊柳観音図 Willow Kannon (Yōryū Kannon). The Met, undated
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/co ... s=475&pg=1&
(Artist: Sakai Hōitsu (Japanese, 1761–1828); Date: probably 1810s; Credit Line: Lent by Fishbein-Bender Collection)
(i) That is his real name, Sakai 酒井 being the surname.
(ii) Guanyin  観音
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanyin
("In Japanese, Guanyin is pronounced Kannon 観音 * * * In China, Guanyin is generally portrayed as a young woman donned in a flowing white robe and usually wearing necklaces symbolic of Indian or Chinese royalty. In her left hand is a jar containing pure water, and the right holds a willow branch. The crown usually depicts the image of Amitābha")

(d) 酒井鶯浦筆 寿老人図  The God of Good Fortune Jurōjin. The Met, undated
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/co ... 4&pos=3&ft=*
(Artist: Sakai Ōho (Japanese, 1808–1841); Date: probably 1830s; Credit Line:Fishbein-Bender Collection, Promised Gift of T Richard Fishbein and Estelle P Bender)

酒井 鶯浦 (1808-1841; 築地本願寺の末寺である市ヶ谷浄栄寺住職、香阪壽徴（雪仙）の次男として生まれる; 酒井抱一の弟子で、後に養子となり雨華庵2世を継いだ)  ja.wikipedia.org for 酒井鶯蒲.
(e) 鈴木其一筆 旭日松鶴図  Crane and Pine Tree with Rising Sun. The Met, undated
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/co ... 4&pos=2&ft=*
(Artist: Suzuki Kiitsu (1796–1858); Date: early 19th century; Credit Line: Lent by Fishbein-Bender Collection)

pronunciation of his given name: ki-i-tsu.
(f) 不動明王像  Fudō Myōō (Achala-vidyārāja). The Met, undated
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/co ... 4&pos=4&ft=*
(Date: 12th century; Medium: Joined-woodblock construction with traces of color and cut-gold; Dimensions: H 63 3/4 in (162 cm); Credit Line: "The Harry GC Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry GC Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975")