Limited Edition Goshuin for Reiwa 8: "Waka and Black Cat" Emperor Uda, the founder of Ninna-ji Temple, was fond of waka and Chinese poetry, even hosting his own uta-awase (poetry contests). The upper fan features the waka poem by Emperor Uda: "Oozora wo wataru haruhi no kage nare ya yoso ni nomi shite nodokekaru ramu." The meaning is: "Are you like the spring sun crossing the vast sky, that you seem to be living peacefully, apart from the palace?" This poem was given to a court lady named "Gyobu no Kimi" who had descended to the countryside and had not returned to the palace for a long time. Her carefree demeanor can also be seen as a parallel to the nature of a cat. "A cat, like the spring sun, unconcerned by calls, living peacefully—" Wouldn't it be interesting to imagine such a scene? The painting on the lower fan depicts the "Kyokusui no En" (Curving Stream Banquet), which Emperor Uda often held, and Sugawara no Michizane is said to have participated in. The gold leaf used is designed to express the profound taste of gold leaf seen in old fusuma paintings and byobu paintings that have aged over time. We will send it to you in a special Ninna-ji Temple bag. ^_^