Scroll from Tale of Bunshō (Bunshō sōshi)

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Handscroll from the 'Tale of Bunshō' (Bunshō sōshi), painted in ink and colours, gold and silver on paper in Japan during the mid-17th century. The story of Bunshō combines rags-to-riches with romance. This popular tale of a lowly servant of Kashima Shrine turned entrepreneurial saltmaker was first enjoyed in the late Muromachi period (1336–1573), but took on a new relevance in Japan’s Edo period (c. 1603–1868). Part of the reason for this upturn in interest was Kashima’s proximity to the shogun’s city, Edo. Originally comprising three scrolls, only the middle and final scrolls of the set survive. This scroll tells the middle section of the story. Overcome by love when hearing of the beauty of Bunshō's daughters, a handsome captain of court rank disguises himself as a merchant and travels from Kyoto to visit Bunshō's mansion.