Nine Poems - Kyuukazu (English) Jiǔ gē tú

Japanese: 九歌図 - きゅうかず（英語表記）Jiǔ gē tú

The subject of Chinese paintings. The Nine Songs are the oldest and most difficult of the poems in the Chu Ci, which are said to have been written by Qu Yuan of Chu in the 3rd century BC, expressing his passionate love for his country. They consist of 11 parts: Donghuang Taiyi, Yunzhongjun, Xiangjun, Xiangfujin, Dasiming, Shaosiming, Dongjun, Hebo, Shangui, Guoshang, and Lishun. The illustrations can be divided into three types: (1) those that faithfully depict groups of gods or rituals that are faithful to the lyrics, (2) white drawings of one or two gods and ghosts, and (3) colored portraits and illustrations for woodblock prints that are somewhere between the two. They are almost the only examples of a variety of designs in the pictorial commentary of Chinese classics.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国画の画題。〈九歌〉は紀元前3世紀楚の屈原が憂国の激情を託して歌ったという《楚辞》の中のもっとも古くもっとも難解と評せられる歌辞。東皇太一･雲中君･湘君･湘夫人･大司命･少司命･東君･河伯･山鬼･国殤（こくしよう）･礼魂の11編から成る。図は(1)詞章に忠実に神々の集団や祭祀のさまを描くもの，(2)1ないし2人の神鬼の白描画，(3)両者の中間ともいえる彩色人物画，版本挿図の3種に分類できる。中国の古典の絵解きに多様な図柄の伝えられるほとんど唯一の例である。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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