Butterflies (Kochō), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 24 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Editor: Here we have *Butterflies*, a calligraphic excerpt from *The Tale of Genji* by Son'ō Jugō. I'm struck by the balance of the text against the decorative border. What do you make of the composition? Curator: Note the careful interplay between line and space. The characters aren't merely linguistic; they are dynamic shapes interacting with the page. Consider the weight and directionality of each stroke. How does it contribute to the overall visual rhythm? Editor: So, it’s less about reading the text and more about appreciating the visual arrangement? Curator: Precisely. The formal elements—the texture of the ink, the spatial relationships between the characters, the bordering design—these are paramount to the aesthetic experience. Editor: I never thought to look at calligraphy this way. Thanks!