The Tale of
the Bamboo Cutter
10 May - 5 August 2012
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori monogatari) is the oldest Japanese work of fiction in prose, written in the early Heian era (9th -10th century). It is well known in the history of Japanese literature for its significant influence on later works such as The Tale of Genji. The Library, holds an early 17th century version of the Bamboo Cutter in a set of two picture scrolls. This version is believed to be the earliest extant example and is recognised as one of the finest of its kind - a masterwork by a Kano School artist of the early Edo period. The scrolls are a valuable resource for scholars, students and members of the general public who are interested in Japanese art.
In preparation for display at the Library in May 2012, the scrolls are currently being conserved by Restorient, a conservation studio based in the Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden, The Netherlands, specialising in Japanese works of art on paper and silk. For further information on the restoration project, please click here.