Two Poems from the Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern, Continued (Zoku Kokin wakashū) 13th century

Curator: Here we have "Two Poems from the Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern, Continued," dating back to the 13th century. The work, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features the calligraphy of Nun Abutsu rendered in ink on paper. Editor: My first impression is of controlled energy, almost like watching water flow, pausing, and then rushing forward again. The pale ground makes the dark ink feel very immediate and intimate. Curator: Exactly. What’s so compelling here is how Abutsu, primarily known as a poet and not a calligrapher by trade, really allows her emotional expression to take over, and through the intentional brushstrokes, gives us an emotional landscape in two distinct poems. You almost read her thoughts as they appear on the paper, following the rhythms she sets forth. Editor: Yes, and each stroke contributes to a holistic design. I see a deliberate play with form and negative space. Notice the varying thickness of the lines, their angles, and the strategic distribution of textual elements—they build tension and release in a carefully choreographed dance across the page. Semiotically speaking, how do we decode these poems calligraphically? Curator: That’s a marvelous question! While deciphering the actual literary content requires specialist skills, as a visual experience, we are asked to feel. We are invited into Abutsu’s perspective. We engage with her contemplation of both visual harmony and human experience through her considered arrangements. You may not understand it but it doesn’t make it difficult to love. Editor: And, personally, I believe that is one of the reasons I connect to Abutsu's poem today. Despite the temporal distance, the ink and intention resonate profoundly. The meticulous artistry invites endless contemplation. Curator: I concur completely, to experience something created 800 years ago and still connect with its heart and core, shows us something valuable about humanity, as a species. Thank you, Nun Abutsu, for making me think.