Hosoda Eishi, 1756-1829

Seki Temple
(Sekidera)

two beauties with kyodai and mirrors; signed Eishi zu with publisher's tomo-e mark and seal Eijudo (Nishimura Yohachi), censor's seal Kiwame, and Hiyashi collector's seal, ca. 1795-96

aiban tate-e 13 1/4 by 8 7/8 in., 33.5 by 22.7 cm

The poem alludes to Ono no Komachi (ca. 825-900), one of the Six Immortal Poets (Rokkasen), who was renowned for her poetry skills, her great beauty, and her prideful scorn towards any would-be suitors in her youth.

Sekidera
Omokage no kawara de
Toshi no tsumorekashi
Tatoe Inochi ni kagiri arutomo

My face, unchanging
my, the years pile up
like my life, it (my beauty) will
surely come to an end

The title of the poem, Sekidera, is a reference to an episode from the Sekidera Komachi, a No play written by Zeami Motokiyo (1363- 443) which tells the story of seven episodes from her life, the Nanakomachi.

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