The Imperial Progress (Miyuki), Illustration to Chapter 29 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Editor: This illustration, titled "The Imperial Progress," comes from Chapter 29 of the Tale of Genji and is by Tosa Mitsunobu. It has a dreamlike quality, maybe it’s the golden ground and stylized figures. What story do you see unfolding here? Curator: It’s like a fleeting glimpse, isn't it? Notice how Mitsunobu uses these soft colors and flattened perspectives—classic yamato-e style. The scene feels staged, almost like a memory play. Is it a celebration, or is there melancholy lurking beneath the surface? Editor: I hadn't considered melancholy. The figures do seem somewhat isolated, even in a group. Curator: Exactly! It’s the beauty and the fleeting nature of courtly life, all wrapped into one scene. A gorgeous paradox, don’t you think? Editor: I do. I’ll definitely look at it differently now, thinking about its layers of meaning.