Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend

Ryōkan Taigu Japanese

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This is one of the Chinese verses Ryōkan Taigu composed upon learning of the death of the Confucian scholar Tomitori Yukinori. In this poignant poem, Ryōkan recalls their joyful days together at a private Confucian school and pours out his profound sorrow upon hearing the news. Ryōkan inscribed the poem in a small standard script, with off-balance characters arrayed in tilted columns.

Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend, Ryōkan Taigu (Japanese, 1758–1831), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

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Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend, Ryōkan Taigu (Japanese, 1758–1831), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend, Ryōkan Taigu (Japanese, 1758–1831), Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

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