Thoroughwort Flowers (Fujibakama), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 30 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Editor: This piece, "Thoroughwort Flowers, Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 30 of the Tale of Genji," is by Jōhōji Kōjo and held at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m struck by how the calligraphy dances with the decorative borders. What do you see in this combination of text and image? Curator: The dragon and phoenix border, symbols of imperial authority and marital harmony, frame a selection from *The Tale of Genji*. The text itself becomes an image, imbued with the emotional resonance of the story. Do you sense a tension between the rigid border and the fluid script? Editor: I do; the border feels very formal, almost like a frame for something more intimate. Curator: Exactly. It’s a visual echo of the constraints and passions within *The Tale of Genji* itself. By juxtaposing these potent symbols, the artist invites us to contemplate the interplay between tradition and individual expression. Editor: That makes so much sense; it's a fascinating combination of elements. Curator: Indeed, a powerful reminder of the layered meanings embedded in visual culture.