Filial Son in Shinano (Shinano kōshi: ShasekishÅ«), from the series Twenty-Four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety for the Honchō Circle (Honchōren honchō nijÅ«shikō), with poems by Chiyonoya Matsufuru and Umenoya Tsuruko c. 1821 - 1822

Curator: Yashima Gakutei's print, “Filial Son in Shinano,” from the series Twenty-Four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety, presents us with a tender scene. It's printed on paper, fairly small, but feels intimate, don't you think? Editor: Intimate is the word! I'm immediately drawn to the man's focused expression, almost severe, yet there's a sense of duty, of profound respect embedded in that furrowed brow. Curator: Absolutely. The act of filial piety itself, a cornerstone of Confucian ethics, is visualized here. The garments, the poems alongside the image, they all speak to societal values. Editor: Indeed! The sword adds a layer of complexity. Is it just a symbol of status, or does it hint at a more complex dynamic between father and son, perhaps unspoken expectations? It grounds the image. Curator: It's a fascinating tension, that blend of cultural ideal and individual experience. The poems are such interesting additions to the image itself. They add to that. Editor: It really does invite reflection on the weight of tradition and the quiet power of devotion, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely. Gakutei, through these visual symbols, prompts us to ponder on generational connections.