Kasen Isso Chawan

Minoyaki Couple Chawan by Miyaji Eiko.

The characters on the two tea bowls are two famous Japanese poets. The male figure is Ariwara no Narihira, the female figure is Ono no Komachi, both among the best waka poets of the early Heian period (9th century). Their poetry is collected in the Kokin Wakashū ("Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times"), a poetry anthology conceived by the emperor himself. The poets are wearing the typical Heian-era multiple-layered, colorful kimono.

On the back of each bowl, a famous poem by the poet on the front of it is written. The poems, both from the Wakashū, are beautifully complementing each other.

The female poet Ono no Komachi's poem goes like this:
色見えでうつろふ物は世中の人の心の花にぞ有りける

iro miete
utsuro mono wa
yo no naka no
hito no kokoro no
hana ni zo arikeru

Visible colors (Invisible passions)
Fade from
This world’s
Human hearts
And flowers.

The male poet Ariwara no Narihira's poem goes like this:
世中にたえてさくらのなかりせば春の心はのどけからまし

yo no naka ni
taete sakura no
nakariseba
haru no kokoro wa
nodokekaramasi

If, in this world of ours
All the cherry blossom
Disappeared
The heart of spring
Might find peace.


The bowls come in a wooden box signed by the artist.


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