Mynah Birds and Flying Rocks

Two essays, originally presented as lectures, explore the poetry and paintings of the prolific Japanese artist Yosa Buson (1716-1784). An innovative freethinker, Buson is now recognized as one of the most remarkable artists of the 18th century and a prominent figure in Japan's cultural history. This book explores the ways by which Yosa Buson portrayed a realm of profound beauty and rich invention. Buson moved effortlessly between visual and verbal systems of expression, creating both paintings and poetry of lyrical beauty. The text focuses on a selection of works from the last phase of his career to elucidate the ways in which Buson's poetic and pictorial sensibilities were intertwined. John M. Rosenfield is curator emeritus of Asian art at the Harvard University Art Museums and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Professor of Asian Art Emeritus, Harvard University. He is a leading historian of Buddhist art and architecture, particularly of Japan in the Heian and Kamakura periods.