Tokuyama Gyokuran
Japanese, 1728 - 1784
Person TypeIndividual
BiographyGyokuran was the third generation in a family dominated by women, and was likely raised in a liberal and artistic atmosphere. Her grandmother and mother were proprietresses of Matsuya, a teahouse in the Gion, Kyoto's famous pleasure quarter. Both were talented poets of waka, a thirty-one syllable form. Gyokuran married Ike Taiga (1723-1776), who was famous for his unconventional life and extraordinary painting talent. He eventually became the most renowned literati painter, and Gyokuran became one of his best pupils. Fame did not bring them wealth, however; they were poor their entire lives, but shared ideals and lived untrammeled by social conventions.