いつとなき ときはのさとは 時鳥 忍ぶはつねに 卯月をやしる Itsu to naki tokiwa no sato wa hototogisu shinobu hatsune ni uzuki wo ya shiru. Any day now, in Tokiwa village when a little cuckoo chirps the first song of the season will people notice the fourth month has come? 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 A delicate tanzaku (poem slip) inscribed by Otagaki Rengetsu (大田垣蓮月), the celebrated Buddhist nun, poet, and calligrapher of the late Edo period. Rengetsu’s works are revered for their lyrical sensitivity and graceful brushwork, often blending seasonal imagery with quiet introspection. This piece features a waka poem written in Rengetsu’s distinctive hand: いつとなき ときはのさとは 時鳥 忍ぶはつねに 卯月をやしる Itsu to naki tokiwa no sato wa hototogisu shinobu hatsune ni uzuki wo ya shiru “Any day now, in Tokiwa village—when a little cuckoo chirps its first song—will people notice the fourth month has come?” The verse evokes the subtle arrival of spring through the cry of the hototogisu (lesser cuckoo), a classical symbol of seasonal transition and poetic longing. Rengetsu’s brushwork is fluid and expressive, reflecting both her literary refinement and Zen-infused aesthetic. A culturally rich and emotionally resonant artifact for collectors of Japanese poetry, calligraphy, and Edo-period female artistry. 大田垣蓮月 Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) Japanese antique Tanzaku rectangle paper / Waka Poem いつとなき ときはのさとは~ Dimensions: 2.3" W x 14.3" H / 6cm x 36.4cm 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. Shipping 'FREE SHIPPING' all over the world by Registered Airmail, EMS, or DHL.