◎「Eight Parlor Scenes Based on Famou Birds-The Golden Pheasant and Evening Rain」(Signed "Koryū ga"/Important Art Object)

The rain at night

But no voice of the samisen

To wake the memories of love.

The appearance of the young dandy, sleepy-eyed and indolent, with one hand on his chin, suggests that the couple are relaxing after the fulfillment of passion. The courtesan, attired in a white uchikake, or robe, patterned with boats and waves, has her left hand tucked inside her sleeve while holding a pipe in her right hand. Kneeling with her lover, she looks at the male golden pheasant in a bird cage on the porch. The pheasant, caged alone without a female at his side, seems to stare back reproachfully.

The "golden pheasant" is the familiar name of a star. There is a superstition that when this pheasant star cries out to herald the dawn all the cocks in the world crow in imitation. The rain continues, and a few hours still remain before the cocks cry at the break of day, when the two lovers must part.