Inui Tai | Woodblock Print

The road through Shinano - 
a newly cleared pat. 
Step not upon the stumps, 
my sandal-wearing beloved.
 
A travel poem in a tender tone. The speaker – likely a woman addressing her husband or lover – warns him as he travels the rough roads of Shinano (present-day Nagano Prefecture). The road is newly cut through the mountains, full of sharp stumps that could injure one’s feet. 
Inui Tai has drawn this poem Book XIV of the Man’yoshu, known as the Eastern Songs. These were folk songs collected from Japan’s eastern provinces (like Shinano, Hitachi, Kazusa), recorded by compilers at the imperial court. Unlike the refined court poetry of famous figures like Kakinomoto no Hitomaro or Yamanoue no Okura, these Eastern Songs are often anonymous, rustic, and emotionally direct. The poet of this song is unknown. It represents the voice of common people rather than elite courtiers, which is part of why Book XIV is so treasured – it preserves 8th century everyday voices.
 
Inui Tai (1929-2023) 
Woodblock print on paper 
27.1 x 24.3 cm (10½ x 9½ in.) 
Papersize 32.7 x 30.7 cm (12¾ x 12 in.)