The Safflower (Suetsumuhana), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 6 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) c. 1509 - 1510

Curator: Looking at "The Safflower," an excerpt from The Tale of Genji by Son'ō Jugō, I feel a deep connection to the past, like I'm peeking into a whispered secret. Editor: The first thing I notice is the ground. It looks like dyed paper. I'm curious about the precise methods used to achieve that rich color and the labor that went into preparing the support. Curator: For me, the brushstrokes themselves evoke so much emotion. They dance across the page, each line a character, a feeling, a fleeting moment. Editor: Absolutely, and the materiality informs this. The ink, likely painstakingly ground, applied with a brush crafted by artisans. It all points to a highly refined process. Curator: Indeed, a process that invites us to contemplate the beauty found within the most delicate of things. Editor: Yes, and also to remember the skilled hands that shaped this beauty.