Gravemarker Moon

Ono no Komachi, a famous beauty and poetess of the 9th century, is seated on a fallen stupa (a gravemarker dedicated to Buddha). This may be the scene from the Noh play Sotoba Komachi (Stupa Komachi) in which two priests ask themselves: “Is this Komachi that once was a bright flower – Komachi the beautiful, whose dark brows linked like young moons – Her face white-farded ever – Whose many, many damask robes filled cedar-scented halls?” Komachi is depicted looking at the moon, and wearing a damask robe that heavily contrasts with her battered straw hat.