Description

大田垣蓮月 Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) Nail Carving and Blue Letters Waka Poem Set of Five Pieces Sake Cup Guinomi with Box VA783

子日とて 野邊にこころの ひかるるは ひくべき松の あればなりけり
Nenohi to te nobe ni kokoro no hika ruru ha hiku beki matsu no are ba nari keri.
On the day of the rat country meadows entice me with pinelings ready for plucking.

うまざけの みわのすぎずば 是ぞこの 不老不死の くすりならまし
Umazake no miwa no sugi zu ba kore zo kono oi zu shina zu no kusuri nara mashi.
Fine sake in balance becomes an elixir for perpetual youth and long life.

大田垣蓮月 Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)
A female poet from the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period. Born in Kyoto. She was adopted by 大田垣光古 Otagaki Teruhisa, samurai who served at Chion-in Temple, when she was only 10 days old. She later married 望古 Mochihisa, the adopted son of Teruhisa. She and Mochihisa had three children, all of whom died at an early age. She also lost her husband, Mochihisa soon. At the age of 33, she lost her second husband, 古肥 Hisatoshi. She and Hisatoshi had one daughter, but the daughter and Mochiko died in 1823. She shaved her head and took the name "Rengetsuni / Nun Rengetsu". After that, Rengetsu moved from place to place and was known as "Moving house Rengetsu" because of her love of moving. After her children died, she lost her father at the age of 42 and lived a life of poverty and solitude. After her father's death, she made her own pottery with waka poems carved with nails, which was called "Rengetsu-yaki". Rengetsu-yaki was so popular as a souvenir of Kyoto, but the sales were given to the poor. She loved 富岡鉄斎 Tomioka Tessai (1837-1924) as if he were her own child. She died at the age of 85, 1875 at 神光院 Jinkoin. She excelled in waka poetry, and was also skilled in calligraphy, painting, naginata, and Go. In waka poetry, she wrote many feminine and delicate epic poems, and was good at writing plain epic poems. Rengetsu was also known for his good looks. It is said that some men approached her because of her beauty which never waned even as she grew older. There is an anecdote that she deliberately pulled out her teeth to ruin her beauty and protected herself from temptation.

A rare and poetic set of five Japanese sake cups (guinomi) attributed to Otagaki Rengetsu (1791–1875), the revered Buddhist nun, poet, and ceramic artist of the late Edo to early Meiji period. This set exemplifies the quiet elegance and literary depth of Rengetsu-yaki, her distinctive pottery inscribed with waka poems carved by hand.
One cup in the set is decorated with blue cursive script, delicately brushed with a fine detail brush (mensōfude), bearing the poem:
子日とて 野邊にこころの ひかるるは ひくべき松の あればなりけり
On the day of the rat, country meadows entice me with pinelings ready for plucking.
The remaining four cups feature the same poem rendered in nail carving (kugi-bori), a hallmark of Rengetsu’s tactile and meditative style. These bear the verse:
うまざけの みわのすぎずば 是ぞこの 不老不死の くすりならまし
Fine sake in balance becomes an elixir for perpetual youth and long life.
Each cup carries the spirit of Rengetsu’s philosophy—ephemeral beauty, modest joy, and spiritual resilience. The poems reflect seasonal nuance and playful reverence for nature and sake, themes often found in her work. The set is housed in a wooden box, inscribed with “Rakutō Rengetsu” (洛東蓮月), indicating her Kyoto origin and artistic identity. Rengetsu’s life was marked by profound loss, spiritual devotion, and artistic generosity. Her pottery, often sold to support the poor, remains deeply cherished for its sincerity and poetic grace. This ensemble offers collectors a rare opportunity to engage with Rengetsu’s legacy through both visual form and literary voice—an intimate fusion of art, poetry, and compassion.

White Porcelain Dimensions: 2" x 1.4" / 5.1cm x 3.8cm

Material: Pottery
Technique: Handmade

Weight: 300g including Box

Condition

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