New Wisteria Leaves (Fuji no Uraba), Illustration to Chapter 33 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Editor: This is *New Wisteria Leaves*, an illustration to Chapter 33 of *The Tale of Genji*, by Tosa Mitsunobu, at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the dreamy quality of the scene. What kind of story do you think the symbols and imagery are trying to tell? Curator: Note the repetition of the figures, their robes echoing the water patterns. Consider how wisteria itself represents longevity and grace in Japanese culture. Does that inform your reading of the scene? Editor: I see what you mean! So, the scene is likely celebrating the refinement of the figures portrayed. Curator: Precisely. And the subtle gestures, almost ritualistic, evoke a sense of timelessness and cultural memory. What have you learned? Editor: The power of symbols is strong with this one. It's interesting how certain images repeat through time and still carry cultural weight.