offer expires at 12:01 AM PDT on 30 Jan 2026

Description

大田垣蓮月 Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) Japanese antique Tanzaku rectangle paper / Waka Poem 秋の夜も わが世もいたく~ TA107

秋の夜も わが世もいたく かたぶきて 入がたちかき 月をしぞおもふ
Aki no yo mo wa ga yo mo itaku katabuki te irigata chikaki tsuki wo shi zo omou.
The autumn night and my own life sharply tilted... reflecting here on the sinking moon.

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.

with signature 'Rengetsu' 蓮月

This antique tanzaku paper bears a poignant waka poem by Otagaki Rengetsu (1791–1875), one of the most revered female poets of the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Written in her elegant calligraphy and signed “Rengetsu” (蓮月), the verse reads:
秋の夜も わが世もいたく かたぶきて 入がたちかき 月をしぞおもふ
Aki no yo mo wa ga yo mo itaku katabuki te irigata chikaki tsuki wo shi zo omou
The autumn night and my own life sharply tilted… reflecting here on the sinking moon.
This verse exemplifies Rengetsu’s deeply introspective style, blending seasonal imagery with personal reflection. The metaphor of the moon sinking into the horizon parallels the poet’s own sense of decline and impermanence, a recurring theme in her work shaped by profound personal loss and spiritual resilience. Rengetsu, born in Kyoto and later ordained as a Buddhist nun, lived a life marked by hardship, artistic devotion, and compassion. Her poetry—often inscribed on ceramics known as Rengetsu-yaki—embodies a quiet strength and feminine grace. This tanzaku, with its delicate brushwork and gold-flecked paper, stands as a moving testament to her legacy as a poet, calligrapher, and spiritual figure

Dimensions: 2.3" W x 14.2" H / 6cm x 36.3cm

Material: Paper
Technique: Handpainted
Weight: 10g

Condition

Antique items have originally crease, stain, damage, and more. I would like you to refer to the listing photos, but please understand that it's difficult to show all conditions by the photos. Special notes: STAIN.

About the colors of the photos

The color of the actual item may look different from the picture because of the lighting. The color on a photo can differ because of light, screen settings, personal color perception, etc. Please understand that we can't control the varying light in different environments. Please read the description, check the actual photos, and ask questions if doubts in advance.

Shipping

"FREE SHIPPING" all over the world by Registered Airmail, EMS, or DHL.