#255 Kana Calligraphy on a Waka by Fujiwara no Masatsune
| Size: | approx. 33 × 24 cm |
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| Format: | Framed |
The Poem
| Waka/Haiku: | Miyoshino no, yama no akikaze, sayo fuke te, furusato samuku, koromo utsu nari |
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| Poet: | Fujiwara no Masatsune (1170–1221) |
| In: | Before 1205 |
A humble reading of the poem:
Over the mountains of Yoshino,
the autumn wind blows.
As the night grows deeper,
the ancient village turns cold,
and somewhere, the sound of cloth being beaten echoes through the darkness.
This waka was written under the poetic theme “Tōi” (Beating Cloth).
In premodern Japan, cloth was placed on a wooden block called a kinuta and gently beaten with a mallet to soften the fabric and give it a smooth sheen. Because this work was often done during the long evenings of autumn, the sound of the kinuta became a familiar symbol of the season in both Japanese and Chinese poetry.
Rather than describing autumn with colorful leaves or the moon, Masatsune evokes it through a single sound. The distant rhythm of the kinuta suggests not only the arrival of a cold night but also the quiet lives of the people who inhabit the mountain village of Yoshino.
A Quiet Reflection
Perhaps autumn is a season that arrives through the ears before the eyes.
Classical waka rarely explains everything. By mentioning only the mountain wind and the faint sound of the kinuta late at night, the poem leaves space for the reader to imagine the crisp air, the stillness of the mountains, and the quiet rhythm of everyday life.
This calligraphy seeks to express the same sense of ma—the Japanese aesthetic of meaningful emptiness. Like the poem itself, it invites the viewer to complete the landscape within their own imagination.
Materials & Presentation
Materials: Kana calligraphy paper and hand-ground sumi ink
The delicate texture of the paper and the depth of the ink create a subtle sense of atmosphere and quiet resonance.
Framing: Custom-mounted and presented in a high-quality acrylic frame
Each work is carefully prepared to suit the character of the calligraphy. Designed to harmonize with contemporary interiors, it brings a sense of balance, refinement, and calm to the surrounding space.
（本画像はGoogleの生成ツールを用いて制作しています。）
Ink holds the seasons long after they have passed.
