Wind in the Pines (Matsukaze), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 18 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Editor: This is "Wind in the Pines," a calligraphic excerpt from The Tale of Genji by Son'ō Jugō. It feels quite intimate. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the Heian period, the context for The Tale of Genji. This fragment reflects a complex interplay of courtly love, social hierarchy, and women’s voices. How does calligraphy itself become a form of expression within constrained social roles? Editor: So, the act of writing itself was significant? Curator: Precisely. Calligraphy was a potent way to negotiate power and identity within established norms. The tale was actually written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu. How does knowing that shift your understanding? Editor: It gives the artwork new layers. I see the agency in its creation. Curator: Exactly. Art can challenge dominant power structures while seemingly adhering to tradition.