Mencius’ Mother Cutting the Thread of Her Shuttle
孟母断機図
- Birth Year
- 1827
- Death Year
- 1892
- Date
- 1889
- Technique, Material, Format
- color on silk, framed
- Dimension
- 111.5 x 55.5 cm
- Donor name
- Ms. Hayami Hiroe
- Category
- Nihonga (Japanese-style Painting)
- Inventory Number
- 91-JP-004
Goseda Horyu invented a method of painting realistic portraits and genre paintings using traditional Japanese materials. With these techniques, he made portraits of the Emperor and senior officials, as well as documentary paintings under the direction of the army. He is also known to have trained many Western-style painters. In 1885, he ceded his artist name to his apprentice and took on the name “Ryu'o” instead.
This work is based on a story according to which Mencius’ mother taught Mencius the importance of not stopping his studies midway by abruptly cutting the thread of the shuttle she was using to weave. The inscription reads, “September 4, 22nd Year of Meiji (1889), at Mozumi-no-sato in Hishu, Goseda Horyu,” indicating that it was painted in Mozumi, Hida Province (now northern Gifu Prefecture).
(KASHIWAGI Tomoh)