ōshukubai 鴬宿梅

Lit. "the plum tree where the warbler dwells." A painting subject inspired by an episode in the 10th-century tale in Ōkagami 大鏡 concerning a daughter of Ki no Tsurayuki 紀貫之 (898?-945?) who refuses to part with a plumtree ume 梅. Emperor Murakami 村上 (r. 946-967) decided to replace the withered plum tree in front of his palace Seiryōden 清涼殿, with a magnificent beautiful red plum tree from Tsurayuki's daughter's garden. When a messenger arrived to take the tree, however, the daughter attached a waka 和歌 to the branch of the plum tree. It reads: "The emperor's command should be highly revered, but how shall I answer if the warbler uguisu 鴬 asks where its home yado 宿 is?" The Emperor was so moved that he decided to return the tree.