Gift cover, (fukusa) with Karuta poetry game cards
- Japan
繻子地刺繍 歌がるた文様袱紗 江戸時代後期
The six rectangular shapes embroidered on this textile represent cards for the popular game called karuta. The calligraphy on the cards is a Japanesestyle script associated with the aristocracy.
Karuta is a poetry game that employs two decks of one hundred cards each. Each "reading card" contains the full text of a poem and a pictorial image—as in those depicted on this fukusa. Each "playing card" bears only the text for the latter half of a poem. These playing cards are spread out on the mat between kneeling competitors.
As the poems on the reading cards are sung aloud one after another, players compete to touch the correct cards first, often whisking them across the room to keep them away from others. Skillful players must recognize the poems instantly from the first few syllables and have quick reflexes.
The best-known set of poems used on karuta cards is One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each, compiled by Fujiwara Teika (1162–1241). Two of the poems on this gift cover come from Teika's set.
