# Tenji Tenno (The Emperor Tenji), first poet in the series One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Explained by the Nurse

- By: Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760-1849; Publisher: Hibino Yohachi; Japanese, unknown)
- Date: c. 1835/36
- Medium: Color woodblock print; yoko oban
- Classification: Print
- Dimensions: 26.2 × 37.7 cm (10 3/8 × 14 7/8 in.)
- Culture: Japan
- Credit line: Clarence Buckingham Collection
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/89508)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/00933b32-0b1a-074b-80c7-e30dd9199faa/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Emperor Tenji (628–681) reigned from 668 to 671, during which he established Japan’s first code of civil law. This scene is based on the story that while the emperor was traveling in the countryside, a sudden shower forced him to take shelter in a flimsy, temporary hut in a rice field. His poem expresses his sympathy for his subjects who must work and endure every day under such conditions.

Coarse the rush-mat roof

Sheltering the harvest hut

Of the autumn rice field—

And my sleeves are growing wet

With the moisture dripping through.

(Translated by Clay MacCauley)

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0