Japanese and Chinese Poems of the Four Seasons - Konoe Sakihisa

A six-panel folding screen featuring classical Japanese and Chinese poetry written on coloured paper squares against a gold-leaf background.

This six-panel folding screen, or byobu, presents a sophisticated arrangement of shikishi, which are square sheets of paper traditionally used for calligraphy. Konoe Sakihisa, a high-ranking court noble and calligrapher of the Momoyama period, curated this collection of Japanese and Chinese poetry. The composition relies on the contrast between the reflective gold-leaf ground and the varied tones of the applied paper squares. These squares, featuring shades of red, brown, grey, and cream, are scattered across the panels in a rhythmic, asymmetrical fashion.

The calligraphy itself demonstrates the fluid, cursive style favoured by the aristocracy of the era. By integrating these literary fragments onto a gilded surface, the work functions as both a vessel for classical literature and a decorative object for a formal interior. The gold leaf provides a luminous backdrop that unifies the disparate elements, while the placement of the poem sheets suggests a deliberate, measured movement across the six panels. This screen reflects the cultural preoccupations of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, where the appreciation of classical poetry was an essential pursuit for the elite. The work avoids excessive ornamentation, allowing the calligraphic lines and the texture of the paper to dictate the visual experience. It remains a clear example of the aesthetic values held by the courtly circles of the time, prioritising balance, literary tradition, and the interplay of materials.